Shloka 33

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

कथं त्वनेन सम्प्राप्तं सारूप्यं शार्ङ्गधन्वन: । आकृत्यावयवैर्गत्या स्वरहासावलोकनै: ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

kathaṁ tv anena samprāptaṁ sārūpyaṁ śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ ākṛtyāvayavair gatyā svara-hāsāvalokanaiḥ

Translation

ولكن كيف نال هذا الشاب هذا الشَّبَه العظيم بسيدي شري كريشنا، حامل قوس شارنغا—في هيئته وأعضائه ومشيته ونبرة صوته وابتسامته ونظرته؟

Synonyms

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: प्रश्न (interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• अनेन: by this (means) / with this
• अनेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सम्प्राप्तम्: attained / obtained
• सम्प्राप्तम्: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्प्राप्त (कृदन्त; सम्+√प्राप् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• सारूप्यम्: resemblance
• सारूप्यम्: कर्ता/विधेय (subject/predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारूप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शार्ङ्ग-धन्वनः: of the wielder of Śārṅga (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• शार्ङ्ग-धन्वनः: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग-धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; शार्ङ्ग + धन्वन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शार्ङ्गं धनुः यस्य (as epithet)

• आकृत्या: by (his) form
• आकृत्या: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अवयवैः: by (his) limbs/features
• अवयवैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गत्या: by (his) gait
• गत्या: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• स्वर-हास-अवलोकनैः: by voice, laughter, and glances
• स्वर-हास-अवलोकनैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर + हास + अवलोकन (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): स्वरः च हासः च अवलोकनानि च

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Śārṅga-dhanvā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about resembling Krishna (sārūpya)?

This verse highlights an extraordinary, detailed resemblance to Śrī Kṛṣṇa—appearance, limbs, gait, voice, laughter, and glance—showing how Kṛṣṇa’s recognizable divine traits can become the focus of astonishment within His līlā.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe someone as looking like Śārṅga-dhanvā (Krishna)?

In the narrative of Canto 10, such descriptions heighten the wonder and dramatic tension of Kṛṣṇa-līlā, emphasizing how events unfold around Kṛṣṇa’s unique, unmistakable features and the amazement they evoke in observers.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this verse today?

Train attention toward Kṛṣṇa’s qualities—His form, gentle demeanor, and affectionate glance—by regular śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance), so devotion becomes vivid and personal rather than abstract.