Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 29

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

तस्य कर्माण्यपाराणि कीर्तितान्यसुरद्विष: । पूतनासुपय:पानं शकटोच्चाटनं शिशो: ॥ २८ ॥ तृणावर्तस्य निष्पेषस्तथैव बकवत्सयो: । अघासुरवधो धात्रा वत्सपालावगूहनम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

tasya karmāṇy apārāṇi kīrtitāny asura-dviṣaḥ pūtanāsu-payaḥ-pānaṁ śakaṭoccāṭanaṁ śiśoḥ

Translation

Also glorified are the innumerable pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of the demons, including His childhood pastimes of sucking out Pūtanā’s life air along with her breast milk, breaking the cart, trampling down Tṛṇāvarta, killing Bakāsura, Vatsāsura and Aghāsura, and the pastimes He enacted when Lord Brahmā hid His calves and cowherd boyfriends in a cave.

Synonyms

• तृणावर्तस्य: of Tṛṇāvarta
• तृणावर्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृणावर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• निष्पेषः: crushing/ pulverizing
• निष्पेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्पेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/so)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed/just)

• बक-वत्सयोः: of Baka and Vatsa
• बक-वत्सयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्व-समास: ‘बकश्च वत्सश्च’

• अघासुर-वधः: the slaying of Aghāsura
• अघासुर-वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघासुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘अघासुरस्य वधः’

• धात्रा: by the Creator (Brahmā)
• धात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• वत्सपाल-अवगूहनम्: the concealment of the calves and cowherd boys
• वत्सपाल-अवगूहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अवगूहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘वत्सपालानाम् अवगूहनम्’ (concealment/covering)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Pūtanā
• Śakaṭāsura
• Tṛṇāvarta
• Bakāsura
• Vatsāsura
• Aghāsura
• Vraja gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s childhood demon-killing pastimes?

This verse lists several Bāla-līlās—Pūtanā, the cart demon, Tṛṇāvarta, Baka, Vatsa, and Aghāsura—showing that even as a child Kṛṣṇa effortlessly protects His devotees and destroys demonic forces.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī summarizing these Krishna-līlās in Canto 12 Chapter 12?

He is concluding and summarizing the Bhāgavatam’s essential topics, reminding Parīkṣit Mahārāja that hearing and glorifying Kṛṣṇa’s deeds is the heart of devotion and the essence of the Purāṇa.

Practical application: how can devotees apply these pastimes in modern life?

By regularly hearing, chanting, and remembering Kṛṣṇa’s līlās—seeing them as protection for the sincere heart—one gains faith, courage against inner “demons” (lust, anger, fear), and steadiness in bhakti.