Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Forest Games and the Slaying of Pralamba

Devanagari script

प्रवालबर्हस्तबकस्रग्धातुकृतभूषणा: । रामकृष्णादयो गोपा ननृतुर्युयुधुर्जगु: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

pravāla-barha-stabaka- srag-dhātu-kṛta-bhūṣaṇāḥ rāma-kṛṣṇādayo gopā nanṛtur yuyudhur jaguḥ

Translation

Decorating themselves with newly grown leaves, along with peacock feathers, garlands, clusters of flower buds, and colored minerals, Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa and Their cowherd friends danced, wrestled and sang.

Synonyms

• प्रवाल: coral/tender shoots
• प्रवाल: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; coral/tender shoot)

• बर्ह: peacock-feather
• बर्ह: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; peacock-feather)

• स्तबक: clusters
• स्तबक: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तबक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; cluster/bunch)

• स्रक्: garlands
• स्रक्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज्/स्रक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; garland)

• धातु: mineral colors
• धातु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; mineral pigment)

• कृत: made (from)
• कृत: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त → कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (in compound; ‘made of’)

• भूषणाः: ornamented (with such ornaments)
• भूषणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (प्रवाल-बर्ह-स्तबक-स्रक्-धातु-कृत-भूषणाः = ‘ornaments made from ...’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• राम: Rāma (Balarāma)
• राम: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• कृष्ण: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• आदयः: and others
• आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (राम-कृष्ण-आदयः = ‘Rāma, Kṛṣṇa and others’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गोपाः: cowherd boys
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ननृतुः: danced
• ननृतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• युयुधुः: fought/played at fighting
• युयुधुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• जगुः: sang
• जगुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Balarama
• Krishna
• Gopas

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna and the gopas playing in the forest?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with the cowherd boys joyfully dancing, singing, and play-wrestling in the forest, adorned with natural ornaments—showing the sweetness of Vraja-līlā and intimate friendship (sakhya-bhakti).

Why are Krishna and Balarama described as wearing peacock feathers, flowers, and mineral pigments?

Śukadeva highlights how Vṛndāvana’s natural beauty becomes their ornamentation, emphasizing the spontaneous, playful, and intimate mood of Kṛṣṇa’s pastoral life with His friends.

Practical application of Krishna’s Vraja pastimes in modern life?

Cultivate simple devotion and joyful remembrance—bring sacredness into everyday life through kīrtana (singing), wholesome friendship, and seeing nature as connected to the Divine.