Shloka 4

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Forest Games and the Slaying of Pralamba

Devanagari script

यत्र निर्झरनिर्ह्रादनिवृत्तस्वनझिल्लिकम् । शश्वत्तच्छीकरर्जीषद्रुममण्डलमण्डितम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

yatra nirjhara-nirhrāda- nivṛtta-svana-jhillikam śaśvat tac-chīkararjīṣa- druma-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam

Translation

In Vṛndāvana übertönte das laute Rauschen der Wasserfälle das Zirpen der Grillen, und Baumgruppen, die ständig vom Sprühnebel jener Wasserfälle befeuchtet wurden, schmückten die ganze Gegend.

Synonyms

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Location marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• निर्झर-निर्ह्राद-निवृत्त-स्वन-झिल्लिकम्: where the chirping of crickets is silenced by the roar of waterfalls
• निर्झर-निर्ह्राद-निवृत्त-स्वन-झिल्लिकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्झर (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्ह्राद (प्रातिपदिक) + निवृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक) + झिल्लिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष-प्रधान बहुपदसमासः; विशेषणम् (वन/प्रदेश implied) — ‘निर्झरनिर्ह्रादेन निवृत्तः स्वनः यस्य तत्’

• शश्वत्: constantly
• शश्वत्: काल (Temporal adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: always/constantly)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण-रूपेण (अग्रिमसमासस्य)

• शीकर-ऋजीष: spray and pollen/dust (fine particles)
• शीकर-ऋजीष: सम्बन्ध (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीकर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋजीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (शीकरं च ऋजीषं च)

• द्रुम-मण्डल-मण्डितम्: adorned with circles/groups of trees
• द्रुम-मण्डल-मण्डितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्रुमाणां मण्डलेन मण्डितम्)

Purport

This and the following three verses describe how Vṛndāvana manifested the features of spring, even during the summer season.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the beauty of Vrindavan in Krishna’s pastimes?

This verse describes a forest region of Vraja where roaring waterfalls silence the crickets and the ever-present mist decorates the groves—showing Vrindavan as a divinely beautiful setting for Krishna-lila.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing waterfalls and trees in Canto 10 Chapter 18?

Śukadeva is narrating Krishna and Balarāma’s cowherd pastimes; the natural scenery highlights the sweetness of Vraja and sets the devotional mood in which the Lord plays with His companions.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate devotion by noticing the sacredness in nature—let uplifting surroundings and mindful attention quiet distracting ‘noises,’ just as the waterfall’s roar silences lesser sounds.