Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 29

The Killing of Keśī and Vyomāsura; Nārada’s Prophetic Praise of Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

गिरिदर्यां विनिक्षिप्य नीतं नीतं महासुर: । शिलया पिदधे द्वारं चतु:पञ्चावशेषिता: ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

giri-daryāṁ vinikṣipya nītaṁ nītaṁ mahāsuraḥ śilayā pidadhe dvāraṁ catuḥ-pañcāvaśeṣitāḥ

Translation

Gradually the great demon abducted more and more of the cowherd boys and cast them into a mountain cave, which he sealed shut with a boulder. Finally only four or five boys acting as sheep remained in the game.

Synonyms

• गिरिदर्याम्: in a mountain cave
• गिरिदर्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative determinative) ‘गिरेः दरी’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• विनिक्षिप्य: having deposited
• विनिक्षिप्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), वि+नि-उपसर्ग; ‘विनिक्षिप्य’ = having placed/put down

• नीतम्: the one carried away
• नीतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• नीतम्: (one by one) carried away
• नीतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense)

• महासुरः: the great demon
• महासुरः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (great demon); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शिलया: with a stone
• शिलया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instrumental)

• पिदधे: closed/covered
• पिदधे: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; पि-उपसर्ग (पि+दधे)

• द्वारम्: the door/entrance
• द्वारम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चतुःपञ्चावशेषिताः: leaving only four or five remaining
• चतुःपञ्चावशेषिताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुः + पञ्च + अवशेषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound) ‘चतुःपञ्च’ (= four or five) + अवशेषिताः (भूतकृदन्त, ‘remaining’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• cowherd boys (gopāḥ)
• the great demon (mahāsura)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting His devotees and friends?

This verse shows a demon attempting to imprison the cowherd boys, yet the narrative emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma remain present to protect them—illustrating the Bhagavatam theme that the Lord safeguards those connected to Him.

Why did the demon seal the cave with a boulder in Canto 10 Chapter 37?

He intended to trap and kill the boys by locking them inside the mountain cave, ensuring they could not escape after he had thrown them in one by one.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

When circumstances feel confining or overwhelming, this episode encourages steadiness in devotion and trust that sincere dependence on the Lord brings guidance and protection, even when danger seems sealed in.