Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 55

Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation

Devanagari script

यावन्त्यहानि नन्दस्य व्रजेऽवात्सीत् स उद्धव: । व्रजौकसां क्षणप्रायाण्यासन् कृष्णस्य वार्तया ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

yāvanty ahāni nandasya vraje ’vātsīt sa uddhavaḥ vrajaukasāṁ kṣaṇa-prāyāṇy āsan kṛṣṇasya vārtayā

Translation

All the days that Uddhava dwelled in Nanda’s cowherd village seemed like a single moment to the residents of Vraja, for Uddhava was always discussing Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• yāvanti: as many as
• yāvanti: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• ahāni: days
• ahāni: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• nandasya: of Nanda
• nandasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (singular)

• vraje: in Vraja
• vraje: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (singular)

• avātsīt: he stayed
• avātsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vas (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (singular)

• uddhavaḥ: Uddhava
• uddhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uddhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (singular)

• vrajaukasām: of the residents of Vraja
• vrajaukasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vraje okasām yeṣām)

• kṣaṇa-prāyāṇi: almost momentary
• kṣaṇa-prāyāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + prāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुषः (kṣaṇa-prāya = almost a moment)

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• kṛṣṇasya: of Krishna
• kṛṣṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (singular)

• vārtayā: by (his) message/news
• vārtayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārttā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन (singular)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Nanda (Nanda Mahārāja)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Vrajavāsīs (residents of Vraja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing Krishna-katha in separation?

This verse says the Vrajavāsīs experienced time as passing like mere moments because they were deeply absorbed in hearing news of Kṛṣṇa—showing how remembrance and hearing in separation intensify devotion.

Why did Uddhava stay in Nanda’s Vraja in Canto 10 Chapter 47?

Uddhava stayed in Vraja to deliver Kṛṣṇa’s message and console the devotees; during his stay, the residents constantly drew him into Kṛṣṇa-centered conversation, making their days feel very short.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

By regularly hearing and discussing Kṛṣṇa-kathā (scripture, kīrtana, satsanga), one’s mind becomes absorbed in devotion, and worldly distress—and even the heaviness of time—feels lighter.