Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

तं द‍ृष्ट्वा जलदश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् । प्रलम्बबाहुं ताम्राक्षं सुस्मितं रुचिराननम् ॥ २७ ॥ स्वलङ्कृतमुखाम्भोजं नीलवक्रालकालिभि: । कृष्णं मत्वा स्‍त्रियो ह्रीता निलिल्युस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ dṛṣṭvā jalada-śyāmaṁ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam pralamba-bāhuṁ tāmrākṣaṁ su-smitaṁ rucirānanam

Translation

The women of the palace thought He was Lord Kṛṣṇa when they saw His dark-blue complexion the color of a rain cloud, His yellow silk garments, His long arms and red-tinged eyes, His charming lotus face adorned with a pleasing smile, His fine ornaments and His thick, curly blue hair. Thus the women became bashful and hid themselves here and there.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having seen’

• जलद-श्यामम्: dark like a cloud
• जलद-श्यामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक) + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्मपदस्य)

• पीत-कौशेय-वाससम्: wearing yellow silk garments
• पीत-कौशेय-वाससम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + कौशेय (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘पीतं कौशेयं वासः यस्य’ (determinative)

• प्रलम्ब-बाहुम्: long-armed
• प्रलम्ब-बाहुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ताम्र-अक्षम्: copper-reddish-eyed
• ताम्र-अक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सु-स्मितम्: gently smiling
• सु-स्मितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘सु’ इति अव्ययपूर्वक-समास

• रुचिर-आननम्: with a beautiful face
• रुचिर-आननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

How is Krishna described in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 55?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa as raincloud-dark, wearing yellow silk, long-armed, reddish-eyed, gently smiling, and possessing a beautiful face—classic marks of His divine charm that attracts the heart.

Who is speaking these verses in Bhagavatam 10.55?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these verses to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while recounting Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Practical application: What does meditating on Krishna’s form teach in daily life?

It trains the mind to return from distraction to a pure, uplifting object—cultivating remembrance (smaraṇa) and softening the heart toward devotion and good conduct.