Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 35
Kṛṣṇa Comforts His Parents, Restores Ugrasena, Studies with Sāndīpani, and Returns the Guru’s Son
सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ । सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥ अहोरात्रैश्चतु:षष्ट्या संयत्तौ तावती: कला: । गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप ॥ ३६ ॥
sarvaṁ nara-vara-śreṣṭhau sarva-vidyā-pravartakau sakṛn nigada-mātreṇa tau sañjagṛhatur nṛpa
O King, those best of persons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, being Themselves the original promulgators of all varieties of knowledge, could immediately assimilate each and every subject after hearing it explained just once. Thus with fixed concentration They learned the sixty-four arts and skills in as many days and nights. Thereafter, O King, They satisfied Their spiritual master by offering him guru-dakṣiṇā.
The following list comprises the sixty-four subjects mastered by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma in sixty-four days. Additional information may be found in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 45, Śukadeva explains that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma mastered all disciplines simply by hearing them once, showing their divine completeness even while performing human-like pastimes.
They enacted the ideal conduct (maryādā) for society—honoring the guru and the discipline of learning—so people would value education, humility, and guru-sevā.
Approach learning with humility, attentive hearing (śravaṇa), and respect for teachers; spiritual growth also depends on focused listening and sincere service.