Shloka 47

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजा: शङ्खचक्रगदाराजीवपाणय: । किरीटिन: कुण्डलिनो हारिणो वनमालिन: ॥ ४७ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्गददोरत्नकम्बुकङ्कणपाणय: । नूपुरै: कटकैर्भाता: कटिसूत्राङ्गुलीयकै: ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

catur-bhujāḥ śaṅkha-cakra- gadā-rājīva-pāṇayaḥ kirīṭinaḥ kuṇḍalino hāriṇo vana-mālinaḥ

Translation

كانوا جميعًا ذوي أربعة أذرع، بأيديهم الصدفة والقرص والمِقْمَعَة واللوتس. على رؤوسهم تيجان، وفي آذانهم أقراط، وعلى أعناقهم عقودٌ وأكاليلُ زهور الغابة. وعلى صدورهم علامة «شريوتس» المباركة؛ وعلى أذرعهم أساورُ العضد، وفي أعناقهم جوهرة «كوستُبه» وخطوطٌ ثلاث كخطوط الصدفة، وفي المعاصم أساور، وفي الكواحل نُوپور، وعلى الخصر حزامٌ مقدّس، وفي الأصابع خواتم—فبدوا في غاية الجمال والبهاء.

Synonyms

• चतुर्भुजाः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (‘चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• शङ्खचक्रगदाराजीवपाणयः: whose hands held conch, discus, mace, and lotus
• शङ्खचक्रगदाराजीवपाणयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + राजीव (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषां पाणयः शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-राजीव-धारिणः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• किरीटिनः: wearing crowns
• किरीटिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुपर्थक (possessive adjective: ‘crowned’)

• कुण्डलिनः: wearing earrings
• कुण्डलिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुपर्थक

• हारिणः: wearing necklaces
• हारिणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुपर्थक

• वनमालिनः: wearing forest garlands
• वनमालिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वनमाला यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

Purport

All the Viṣṇu forms had four arms, with conchshell and other articles, but these characteristics are also possessed by those who have attained sārūpya-mukti in Vaikuṇṭha and who consequently have forms exactly like the form of the Lord. However, these Viṣṇu forms appearing before Lord Brahmā also possessed the mark of Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha gem, which are special characteristics possessed only by the Supreme Lord Himself. This proves that all these boys and calves were in fact directly expansions of Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead, not merely His associates of Vaikuṇṭha. Viṣṇu Himself is included within Kṛṣṇa. All the opulences of Viṣṇu are already present in Kṛṣṇa, and consequently for Kṛṣṇa to demonstrate so many Viṣṇu forms was actually not very astonishing.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna showing four-armed forms?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes the boys/calves manifesting as four-armed forms holding conch, disc, mace, and lotus—revealing Kṛṣṇa’s supreme, Viṣṇu-like majesty within His Vraja līlā.

Why did Krishna reveal these forms to Brahma in Canto 10 Chapter 13?

Brahmā had stolen the calves and cowherd boys to test Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa then displayed His unlimited potency so Brahmā could understand that the Lord alone is the source of all expansions and opulences.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It teaches humility: even the greatest intellect can be bewildered, so one should rely on devotion and surrender rather than pride in one’s own power or knowledge.