Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

अद‍ृष्ट्वा निर्गमं शौरे: प्रविष्टस्य बिलं जना: । प्रतीक्ष्य द्वादशाहानि दु:खिता: स्वपुरं ययु: ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

adṛṣṭvā nirgamaṁ śaureḥ praviṣṭasya bilaṁ janāḥ pratīkṣya dvādaśāhāni duḥkhitāḥ sva-puraṁ yayuḥ

Translation

After Lord Śauri had entered the cave, the people of Dvārakā who had accompanied Him had waited twelve days without seeing Him come out again. Finally they had given up and returned to their city in great sorrow.

Synonyms

• adṛṣṭvā: not having seen
• adṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया, prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा) with negation a-
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), ‘not having seen’

• nirgamam: the exit/coming out
• nirgamam: Karma (कर्म, object of ‘adṛṣṭvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirgama (निर्गम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śaureḥ: of Śauri (Kṛṣṇa)
• śaureḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध, possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauri (शौरि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• praviṣṭasya: who had entered
• praviṣṭasya: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (प्र-विश् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; qualifying ‘śaureḥ’

• bilam: the cave
• bilam: Karma (कर्म, object/goal of entering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bila (बिल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• janāḥ: the people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता, subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (जन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• pratīkṣya: having waited
• pratīkṣya: Kriya (क्रिया, prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√īkṣ (प्रति-ईक्ष् धातु) + ya (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-सम)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having waited/after waiting’

• dvādaśa-ahāni: twelve days
• dvādaśa-ahāni: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण, duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (द्वादश) + ahan (अहन्/अह प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; time-extent accusative; द्विगु-समास (‘twelve days’)

• duḥkhitāḥ: distressed
• duḥkhitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (दुःखित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; qualifying ‘janāḥ’

• sva-puram: their own city
• sva-puram: Karma (कर्म, destination as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (स्व) + pura (पुर)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय (‘own city’)

• yayuḥ: went
• yayuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural

Characters & Entities

• Śauri (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

Why did the people of Dvārakā wait for twelve days when Kṛṣṇa entered the cave?

Because Kṛṣṇa (Śauri) did not reappear after entering the cave, and they anxiously hoped for His safe return; after twelve days of waiting, they gave up and returned to the city in sorrow.

What is the significance of Kṛṣṇa being called 'Śauri' in this verse?

‘Śauri’ highlights Kṛṣṇa’s lineage as a descendant of Śūra and is a common Bhāgavata epithet, used here while narrating His heroic search connected to the Syamantaka jewel.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about devotion during separation?

It shows the natural pain devotees feel when they cannot see the Lord’s presence; in modern life, it encourages steadiness—continuing remembrance and faith even when outcomes are delayed or unclear.