Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6

Kṛṣṇa Swallows the Forest Fire (Dāvāgni-līlā) and Restores the Herd

Devanagari script

ता आहूता भगवता मेघगम्भीरया गिरा । स्वनाम्नां निनदं श्रुत्वा प्रतिनेदु: प्रहर्षिता: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

tā āhūtā bhagavatā megha-gambhīrayā girā sva-nāmnāṁ ninadaṁ śrutvā pratineduḥ praharṣitāḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead called out to the animals in a voice that resounded like a rumbling cloud. Hearing the sound of their own names, the cows were overjoyed and called out to the Lord in reply.

Synonyms

• ताः: they (the cows)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम; (गावः implied)

• आहूताः: called
• आहूताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हु (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘having been called’

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument; by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्

• मेघ-गम्भीरया: with a cloud-deep
• मेघ-गम्भीरया: Karana (करण/Instrument; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘cloud-deep’ (voice)

• गिरा: voice
• गिरा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गीर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्

• स्व-नाम्नाम्: of their own names
• स्व-नाम्नाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘of their own names’

• निनदम्: the sound/call
• निनदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund/absolutive), ‘having heard’

• प्रतिनेदुः: responded (lowed back)
• प्रतिनेदुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्

• प्रहर्षिताः: delighted
• प्रहर्षिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + हृष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘delighted’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Bhagavān)
• Vraja cows (go-dhana)

FAQs

Why does Krishna call the cows by their names in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa’s intimate, personal care in Vraja—He knows and calls each cow, and they joyfully respond, illustrating loving reciprocity between the Lord and those devoted to Him.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.19.6 and what is the context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates to King Parīkṣit. In this Vṛndāvana episode, Kṛṣṇa calls out to the cows; hearing their own names, they answer back, delighted.

How can devotees apply the lesson of Krishna’s personal call in modern life?

Cultivate attentive devotion—hearing and responding to the Lord through nāma-saṅkīrtana, prayer, and service—trusting that Bhagavān relates personally and reciprocates with sincere bhakti.