Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तासां वासांस्युपादाय नीपमारुह्य सत्वर: । हसद्भ‍ि: प्रहसन् बालै: परिहासमुवाच ह ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tāsāṁ vāsāṁsy upādāya nīpam āruhya satvaraḥ hasadbhiḥ prahasan bālaiḥ parihāsam uvāca ha

Translation

Taking the girls’ garments, He quickly climbed to the top of a kadamba tree. Then, as He laughed loudly and His companions also laughed, He addressed the girls jokingly.

Synonyms

• तासाम्: of those (girls)
• तासाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• वासांसि: garments
• वासांसि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्/वासः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• उपादाय: having taken up
• उपादाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-√दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• नीपम्: the kadamba tree
• नीपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; goal of climbing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आरुह्य: having climbed
• आरुह्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√रुह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• सत्वरः: quickly/hastily
• सत्वरः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—शीघ्रभावयुक्तः

• हसद्भिः: with (those) laughing
• हसद्भिः: सहकारक/करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; accompaniment)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हस् (धातु) + शतृ (present active participle)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/PAP), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘laughing’

• प्रहसन्: laughing loudly
• प्रहसन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√हस् (धातु) + शतृ (PAP)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• बालैः: with the boys
• बालैः: सहकारक/करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; with the boys)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• परिहासम्: a jest/teasing
• परिहासम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed/just
• ह: अलङ्कार/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), कथन-प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ/अनुवादक

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs
• Cowherd boys (gopas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna stealing the gopis’ garments?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa taking the gopīs’ clothes and climbing a kadamba tree, then teasing them—part of a līlā meant to draw out complete surrender and exclusive devotion.

Why did Krishna tease the gopis in Canto 10 Chapter 22?

Kṛṣṇa’s playful words, accompanied by the boys’ laughter, form a deliberate test and revelation of the gopīs’ single-minded dependence on Him, a hallmark of Vraja-bhakti in this narrative.

Practical application of surrender (śaraṇāgati) from this shloka in modern life?

Even when circumstances feel embarrassing or challenging, cultivate humility and steady faith—turning to the Lord for shelter rather than ego-based reactions.