Shloka 40
Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water
अथ तालफलान्यादन्मनुष्या गतसाध्वसा: । तृणं च पशवश्चेरुर्हतधेनुककानने ॥ ४० ॥
atha tāla-phalāny ādan manuṣyā gata-sādhvasāḥ tṛṇaṁ ca paśavaś cerur hata-dhenuka-kānane
Daraufhin kehrten die Menschen, nun ohne Furcht, in den Wald zurück, wo Dhenuka getötet worden war, und aßen die Früchte der Palmen. Auch die Kühe konnten dort frei das Gras weiden.
According to the ācāryas, low-class people such as the pulindas ate the fruits of the palm trees, but Kṛṣṇa’s cowherd boyfriends considered them undesirable, since they had been tainted with the blood of the asses.
FAQs
This verse states that after Dhenuka was killed, the people became “gata-sādhvasāḥ”—free from fear—showing how Kṛṣṇa’s protection restores peace and confidence to the residents.
Dhenuka’s presence had made the forest dangerous; once he was slain, the threat ended, and the residents could safely collect the tāla fruits that were previously inaccessible.
The shloka highlights that when a major source of harm is removed, life becomes steady again—devotees apply this by taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa through bhakti to overcome fear and regain inner calm.