Shloka 45

Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura

Devanagari script

तौ वत्सपालकौ भूत्वा सर्वलोकैकपालकौ । सप्रातराशौ गोवत्सांश्चारयन्तौ विचेरतु: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

tau vatsa-pālakau bhūtvā sarva-lokaika-pālakau saprātar-āśau go-vatsāṁś cārayantau viceratuḥ

Translation

بعد قتل الشيطان، أتمّ كريشنا وبلرام فطور الصباح، ثم أخذا يرعيان العجول ويحفظانها ويتجولان هنا وهناك. ومع أنهما حافظا العوالم كلها، تولّيا أمر العجول كأنهما راعيان صغيران.

Synonyms

• तौ: those two (Krishna and Balarama)
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वत्स-पालकौ: calf-herders
• वत्स-पालकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘वत्सानां पालकौ’

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having become)

• सर्व-लोक-एक-पालकौ: the sole protectors of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-एक-पालकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक + एक + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘सर्वलोकस्य एकपालकौ’ (protectors of the whole world)

• स-प्रातराशौ: having eaten breakfast
• स-प्रातराशौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रातराश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; अव्ययीभाव ‘प्रातराशेन सह’ (having taken breakfast)

• गो-वत्सान्: the calves of the cows
• गो-वत्सान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘गवां वत्सान्’

• चारयन्तौ: grazing (them)/making them graze
• चारयन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चारय् (धातु; √चर् causative)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तौ इति कर्तरि

• विचेरतुः: wandered/roamed about
• विचेरतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन

Purport

Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. Kṛṣṇa’s daily business here in this material world was to kill the duṣkṛtīs. This did not hamper His daily affairs, for it was routine work. While He tended the calves on the bank of the river Yamunā, two or three incidents took place every day, and although these were serious, killing the demons one after another appeared to be His daily routine work.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna appearing as an ordinary cowherd boy?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma move about as calf-herd boys in Vraja, yet they are actually the sole protectors of all worlds—showing the Lord’s sweetness (mādhurya) that hides His majesty.

Why are Krishna and Balarama called the protectors of all worlds in this verse?

Śukadeva highlights their true divine identity: although they perform simple village activities like eating breakfast and grazing calves, they are the supreme guardians sustaining and protecting creation.

Practical application of Krishna’s cowherd pastimes in modern life?

The verse teaches humility and devotion: do your daily duties simply and sincerely, remembering that God can be present in ordinary life and that service done with love is spiritually powerful.