Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21

Kṛṣṇa Comforts His Parents, Restores Ugrasena, Studies with Sāndīpani, and Returns the Guru’s Son

Devanagari script

पितर्युवाभ्यां स्‍निग्धाभ्यां पोषितौ लालितौ भृशम् । पित्रोरभ्यधिका प्रीतिरात्मजेष्वात्मनोऽपि हि ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

pitar yuvābhyāṁ snigdhābhyāṁ poṣitau lālitau bhṛśam pitror abhyadhikā prītir ātmajeṣv ātmano ’pi hi

Translation

[Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma said:] O Father, you and mother Yaśodā have affectionately maintained Us and cared for Us so much! Indeed, parents love their children more than their own lives.

Synonyms

• pitar: O father
• pitar: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (Vedic/epic vocative form)

• yuvābhyām: by you two
• yuvābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuvām (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual

• snigdhābhyām: affectionate
• snigdhābhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; qualifying yuvābhyām

• poṣitau: nourished, raised
• poṣitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣ (धातु) → poṣita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (referring to Kṛṣṇa and Saṅkarṣaṇa)

• lālitau: fondled, cherished
• lālitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lal (धातु) → lālita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; coordinated with poṣitau

• bhṛśam: greatly
• bhṛśam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) meaning 'greatly/exceedingly'

• pitrōḥ: of parents
• pitrōḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual

• abhyadhikā: greater, exceeding
• abhyadhikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhyadhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective to prītiḥ

• prītiḥ: affection, love
• prītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ātmajeṣu: toward (one’s) children
• ātmajeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) 'even/also'

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal nuance

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vasudeva
• Devaki

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about parental love being greater than self-love?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa states that parents naturally feel deeper affection for their children than even for their own selves, highlighting the intensity of vātsalya (parental) love.

Why did Krishna say this to Vasudeva and Devaki in Canto 10 Chapter 45?

After reuniting with His birth parents, Kṛṣṇa acknowledges their affection and the universal truth of parental love, honoring their role and expressing gratitude within the dharma of family relationships.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize and respect the sacrifices parents make, cultivate gratitude, and respond with responsible care and service—seeing family duties as part of one’s dharma.