Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21

The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire

Devanagari script

तास्तथावनता द‍ृष्ट्वा भगवान् देवकीसुत: । वासांसि ताभ्य: प्रायच्छत्करुणस्तेन तोषित: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tās tathāvanatā dṛṣṭvā bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ vāsāṁsi tābhyaḥ prāyacchat karuṇas tena toṣitaḥ

Translation

Seeing them bow down like that, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Devakī, gave them back their garments, feeling compassionate toward them and satisfied by their act.

Synonyms

• tāḥ: them (those girls)
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object of dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana

• tathā-avanatāḥ: thus bowed down
• tathā-avanatāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + avanata (ava-nam/धातु + kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘thus bowed down’ qualifying tāḥ

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; ‘having seen’

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• devakī-sutaḥ: Devakī’s son
• devakī-sutaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/Identifier of bhagavān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devakī (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘son of Devakī’

• vāsāṁsi: the garments
• vāsāṁsi: Karma (कर्म/Object of prāyacchat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• tābhyaḥ: to them
• tābhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Caturthī/Dative (चतुर्थी), Bahuvacana

• prāyacchat: gave back
• prāyacchat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• karuṇaḥ: compassionate
• karuṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective to bhagavān

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Napuṁsaka/Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana; ‘by that/thereby’

• toṣitaḥ: satisfied
• toṣitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; state of bhagavān

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Devakī-suta)
• Gopīs (Vraja-devīs)

FAQs

Why did Krishna return the gopīs’ garments in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.22.21?

Because He saw their humility and surrender; pleased by their submissive demeanor, the compassionate Lord returned their clothes.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 10.22.21 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to King Parīkṣit, describing Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mercy toward the gopīs during the Kātyāyanī-vrata pastime.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 10.22.21 for modern life?

Genuine humility and surrender soften the heart and invite divine grace—devotional life progresses when pride is replaced by sincere submission.