Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

पादसंवाहनं चक्रु: केचित्तस्य महात्मन: । अपरे हतपाप्मानो व्यजनै: समवीजयन् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

pāda-saṁvāhanaṁ cakruḥ kecit tasya mahātmanaḥ apare hata-pāpmāno vyajanaiḥ samavījayan

Translation

Some of the cowherd boys, who were all great souls, would then massage His lotus feet, and others, qualified by being free of all sin, would expertly fan the Supreme Lord.

Synonyms

• पाद-संवाहनम्: foot-massage
• पाद-संवाहनम्: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘पादानां संवाहनम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चक्रुः: they did
• चक्रुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: कर्ता (Karta; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन: ‘some (people)’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha; genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great soul
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of the great-souled one’

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: कर्ता (Karta; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन: ‘others’

• हत-पाप्मानः: whose sins were destroyed
• हत-पाप्मानः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु) + पाप्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘हतः पाप्मा येषाम्’ (whose sin is destroyed); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण

• व्यजनैः: with fans
• व्यजनैः: करण (Karaṇa; instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• समवीजयन्: they fanned (him)
• समवीजयन्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वीज् (धातु) + सम्- + अव- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

Purport

The word samavījayan indicates that the cowherd boys fanned the Lord very carefully and expertly, creating gentle and cooling breezes.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving Krishna in friendship (sakhya-bhakti)?

This verse shows the cowherd boys serving Kṛṣṇa naturally—massaging His feet and fanning Him—illustrating intimate, loving service in sakhya-rasa.

Why were the cowherd boys fanning and massaging Krishna’s feet in Canto 10 Chapter 15?

During Kṛṣṇa’s Vṛndāvana forest pastimes, His friends, overwhelmed with affection, spontaneously performed personal services to please Him.

Practical application of seva (devotional service) in modern life?

Offer simple, consistent acts of service—at home, in a temple, or through daily worship—with a mood of affection and humility, aiming to please the Lord rather than display oneself.