Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

अथ गावश्च गोपाश्च निदाघातपपीडिता: । दुष्टं जलं पपुस्तस्यास्तृष्णार्ता विषदूषितम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

atha gāvaś ca gopāś ca nidāghātapa-pīḍitāḥ duṣṭaṁ jalaṁ papus tasyās tṛṣṇārtā viṣa-dūṣitam

Translation

Zu jener Zeit litten die Kühe und die Hirtenjungen stark unter der gleißenden Sommersonne. Von Durst gequält tranken sie Wasser aus der Yamunā, doch es war durch Gift verunreinigt.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अन्वय (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• गावः: cows
• गावः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गोपाः: cowherd boys
• गोपाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निदाघ: summer heat
• निदाघ: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-रूप (in compound)

• आतप: sunshine/heat
• आतप: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-रूप (in compound)

• पीडिताः: afflicted by summer heat
• पीडिताः: विशेषण (Adjective of gāvaḥ/gopāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: निदाघ-आतप (तत्पुरुष) + पीडित

• दुष्टम्: foul/tainted
• दुष्टम्: विशेषण (Adjective of jalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पपुः: they drank
• पपुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• तस्याः: of it/of her (that river)
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम

• तृष्णा: thirst
• तृष्णा: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रातिपदिक-रूप (in compound)

• आर्ताः: distressed by thirst
• आर्ताः: विशेषण (Adjective of gāvaḥ/gopāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तृष्णा-आर्त (तत्पुरुष: 'distressed by thirst'); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विष: poison
• विष: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रातिपदिक-रूप (in compound)

• दूषितम्: polluted with poison
• दूषितम्: विशेषण (Adjective of jalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: विष-दूषित (तत्पुरुष: 'poison-tainted')

Characters & Entities

• gopāḥ (cowherd boys)
• gāvaḥ (cows)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about poisoned water in Krishna’s Vraja pastimes?

This verse states that the cows and cowherd boys, overwhelmed by summer heat and thirst, drank water that was foul and contaminated by poison—setting the scene for Krishna’s protective intervention.

Who is describing the cows and cowherd boys drinking poisoned water in Canto 10?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this incident to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of Krishna’s Vṛndāvana līlā.

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

Human weakness and urgency can lead to harmful choices; the Bhagavatam teaches careful discernment and, above all, reliance on the Lord’s protection when dangers arise.