Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 22

Dāmodara-līlā: Mother Yaśodā Binds Kṛṣṇa; the Two-Fingers Mystery; Prelude to the Yamala-Arjuna Deliverance

Devanagari script

कृष्णस्तु गृहकृत्येषु व्यग्रायां मातरि प्रभु: । अद्राक्षीदर्जुनौ पूर्वं गुह्यकौ धनदात्मजौ ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇas tu gṛha-kṛtyeṣu vyagrāyāṁ mātari prabhuḥ adrākṣīd arjunau pūrvaṁ guhyakau dhanadātmajau

Translation

While mother Yaśodā was very busy with household affairs, the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, observed twin trees known as yamala-arjuna, which in a former millennium had been the demigod sons of Kuvera.

Synonyms

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• गृह-कृत्येषु: in household tasks
• गृह-कृत्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; अधिकरणे—‘in household chores’

• व्यग्रायाम्: (while she was) busy
• व्यग्रायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with ‘मातरि’—‘while (she) was busy’

• मातरि: in/when (his) mother
• मातरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी—‘when (his) mother (was...)’

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृष्णस्य विशेषणम्

• अद्राक्षीत्: saw
• अद्राक्षीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्जुनौ: the two Arjunas (trees)
• अर्जुनौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly/earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvam (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• गुह्यकौ: the two Guhyakas
• गुह्यकौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; ‘two Guhyakas (attendants of Kubera)’; in apposition to ‘अर्जुनौ’

• धनद-आत्मजौ: the two sons of Kubera
• धनद-आत्मजौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanada (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; ‘धनदस्य आत्मजौ’—sons of Kubera; apposition to ‘अर्जुनौ/गुह्यकौ’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Mother Yaśodā
• Dhānada (Kuvera)
• Guhyakas
• Nalakuvara
• Maṇigrīva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the two Arjuna trees in Damodara-lila?

This verse states that Kṛṣṇa noticed the two Arjuna trees, which were actually Kuvera’s sons in a hidden/covered condition, setting the stage for their deliverance.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.22?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to King Parīkṣit.

What is the practical application of this verse for modern life?

Even amid ordinary duties (like Yaśodā’s household work), the Lord’s mercy and transformative grace continue—encouraging steady devotion in daily life.