Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 29

Nārada Sees Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā in the Palaces of the Queens

Dvāra-kā-līlā

Devanagari script

हसन्तं हासकथया कदाचित् प्रियया गृहे । क्व‍ापि धर्मं सेवमानमर्थकामौ च कुत्रचित् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

hasantaṁ hāsa-kathayā kadācit priyayā gṛhe kvāpi dharmaṁ sevamānam artha-kāmau ca kutracit

Translation

Somewhere Lord Kṛṣṇa was found enjoying the company of a particular wife by exchanging joking words with her. Somewhere else He was found engaged, along with His wife, in religious ritualistic functions. Somewhere Kṛṣṇa was found engaged in matters of economic development, and somewhere else He was found enjoying family life according to the regulative principles of the śāstras.

Synonyms

• हसन्तम्: (him) laughing
• हसन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु) → हसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; object-form used in description (accusative singular masculine)

• हास-कथया: by joking talk
• हास-कथया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हास (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (हासस्य कथा = joking talk)

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• प्रियया: with (his) beloved
• प्रियया: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), एकवचन

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• क्व: somewhere/where
• क्व: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: where)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = also/even

• धर्मम्: dharma, duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• सेवमानम्: (him) practicing/serving
• सेवमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/Ātmanepada present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अर्थ-कामौ: wealth and desire
• अर्थ-कामौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (अर्थश्च कामश्च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• कुत्रचित्: somewhere
• कुत्रचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (somewhere)

Purport

This translation is based on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Kṛṣṇa’s queens (priyā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s daily life in Dvaraka?

This verse describes how the queens witnessed Kṛṣṇa in different moods and duties—playful domestic affection, strict observance of dharma, and attention to artha and kāma—revealing His complete mastery of all aspects of life.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Krishna engaged in dharma, artha, and kāma?

To show that although Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord, He enacts ideal human conduct in household life, harmonizing duty, prosperity, and enjoyment without bondage, thereby teaching by His own example.

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

Balance life by honoring dharma (ethics and spiritual practice), responsibly pursuing artha (livelihood), and keeping kāma (enjoyment) within dharmic limits—while cultivating loving relationships centered on devotion.