Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

अन्ये तदनुरूपाणि मनोज्ञानि महात्मन: । गायन्ति स्म महाराज स्नेहक्लिन्नधिय: शनै: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

anye tad-anurūpāṇi manojñāni mahātmanaḥ gāyanti sma mahā-rāja sneha-klinna-dhiyaḥ śanaiḥ

Translation

My dear King, other boys would sing enchanting songs appropriate to the occasion, and their hearts would melt out of love for the Lord.

Synonyms

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

• तत्-अनुरूपाणि: things suitable to him
• तत्-अनुरूपाणि: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘तस्मै अनुरूपाणि’ (suitable to him); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मपद-विशेषण

• मनोज्ञानि: pleasing (to the mind)
• मनोज्ञानि: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• महात्मनः: of the great soul
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• गायन्ति: they sing
• गायन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• स्म: indeed / used to
• स्म: क्रियाविशेषण (verbal particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्म-निपात (particle indicating past/continuity with present): ‘indeed/used to’

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana; address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘महान् राजा’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• स्नेह-क्लिन्न-धियः: whose minds were softened by affection
• स्नेह-क्लिन्न-धियः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक) + क्लिन्न (कृदन्त; √क्लिद् धातु) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘स्नेहेन क्लिन्ना धिः येषाम्’ (whose minds are moistened with affection); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण

• शनैः: softly / slowly
• शनैः: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘slowly/softly’

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about singing (kīrtana) in Krishna’s Vṛndāvana pastimes?

This verse describes the cowherd boys gently singing charming, mood-appropriate songs—showing that heartfelt kīrtana naturally arises from loving association with Kṛṣṇa.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit as “Mahārāja” in this verse?

Śukadeva is narrating Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja-līlā to King Parīkṣit, respectfully addressing him while describing how the gopas’ affection overflowed into sweet singing.

Practical application of “sneha-klinna-dhiyah” (minds softened by affection) in modern life?

Cultivate devotion that melts the heart—through sincere remembrance, chanting, and service—so spiritual practice becomes gentle, natural, and joy-filled rather than mechanical.