Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 1

The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute

Veṇu-gīta

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्थं शरत्स्वच्छजलं पद्माकरसुगन्धिना । न्यविशद् वायुना वातं सगोगोपालकोऽच्युत: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca itthaṁ śarat-svaccha-jalaṁ padmākara-sugandhinā nyaviśad vāyunā vātaṁ sa-go-gopālako ’cyutaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus the Vṛndāvana forest was filled with transparent autumnal waters and cooled by breezes perfumed with the fragrance of lotus flowers growing in the clear lakes. The infallible Lord, accompanied by His cows and cowherd boyfriends, entered that Vṛndāvana forest.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (honorific), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• śarat-svaccha-jalam: the clear autumn water
• śarat-svaccha-jalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarat (प्रातिपदिक) + svaccha (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘autumn-clear water’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• padmākara-sugandhinā: fragrant from lotus-ponds
• padmākara-sugandhinā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma-ākara (प्रातिपदिक) + sugandhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘fragrant with lotus-lakes’), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular) — qualifies ‘vāyunā’ (wind)

• nyaviśat: entered / pervaded
• nyaviśat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-viś (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vāyunā: by the wind
• vāyunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• vātam: the breeze / air
• vātam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• sa-go-gopālakaḥ: (Kṛṣṇa) with cows and cowherd boys
• sa-go-gopālakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + go (प्रातिपदिक) + gopālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-समास sense: ‘with cows and cowherd-boys’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• acyutaḥ: Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)
• acyutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta)
• Gopas (cowherd boys)
• Cows of Vraja

FAQs

What is the meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam 10.21.1?

It describes Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) entering the Vṛndāvana forest with the cows and cowherd boys during autumn, when clear waters and lotus fragrance fill the air—setting the devotional mood for Veṇu-gīta.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 10.21 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this narration to King Parīkṣit, introducing the scene of Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja-līlā that leads into the glories of His flute-song (Veṇu-gīta).

How can devotees apply the message of this verse in modern life?

By intentionally bringing the mind to Kṛṣṇa through śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance), appreciating how nature and daily life become spiritually meaningful when centered on the Lord’s presence.