Shloka 41

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

कृष्ण: कमलपत्राक्ष: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: । स्तूयमानोऽनुगैर्गोपै: साग्रजो व्रजमाव्रजत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇaḥ kamala-patrākṣaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ stūyamāno ’nugair gopaiḥ sāgrajo vrajam āvrajat

Translation

Dann kehrte der lotosäugige Herr Śrī Kṛṣṇa, dessen Ruhm fromm zu hören und zu besingen ist, mit Seinem älteren Bruder Balarāma nach Vraja zurück. Unterwegs sangen die Kuhhirtenjungen, Seine treuen Gefährten, Seine Herrlichkeit.

Synonyms

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कमलपत्राक्षः: lotus-petal-eyed
• कमलपत्राक्षः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + पत्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—कमलपत्रे इव अक्षिणी यस्य (whose eyes are like lotus-petals)

• पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः: whose hearing and chanting are auspicious
• पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य + श्रवण + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—पुण्यं श्रवणं कीर्तनं यस्य (whose hearing and chanting are meritorious / whose fame is holy to hear and sing)

• स्तूयमानः: being praised
• स्तूयमानः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + शानच् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनुगैः: by the accompanying
• अनुगैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• गोपैः: by the cowherd boys
• गोपैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• साग्रजः: together with his elder brother
• साग्रजः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अग्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहार्थक-उपपद (with his elder brother)

• व्रजम्: to Vraja
• व्रजम्: कर्म (Karma/Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आव्रजत्: returned
• आव्रजत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Purport

When the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa are vibrated, both the speakers and the hearers are purified and become pious.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s glories?

This verse calls Kṛṣṇa “puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtana,” indicating that hearing about Him and chanting His names and deeds is inherently purifying and spiritually auspicious.

Why were the gopas praising Kṛṣṇa as He returned to Vraja?

In the flow of Kṛṣṇa’s Vṛndāvana pastimes, His companions naturally respond with affection and wonder; the cowherd boys glorify Him while accompanying Him back to Vraja, celebrating His presence and deeds.

How can I apply “śravaṇa and kīrtana” in modern life according to this shloka?

Make daily space to hear (read/listen to) Kṛṣṇa-kathā and to chant or sing His names; the verse emphasizes that such devotional engagement itself carries purifying spiritual benefit.