Shloka 1

Kṛṣṇa Swallows the Forest Fire (Dāvāgni-līlā) and Restores the Herd

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच क्रीडासक्तेषु गोपेषु तद्गावो दूरचारिणी: । स्वैरं चरन्त्यो विविशुस्तृणलोभेन गह्वरम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca krīḍāsakteṣu gopeṣu tad-gāvo dūra-cāriṇīḥ svairaṁ carantyo viviśus tṛṇa-lobhena gahvaram

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: Während die Kuhhirtenjungen ganz im Spiel versunken waren, streiften ihre Kühe weit umher. Von Gier nach Gras getrieben und unbeaufsichtigt, gingen sie frei in einen dichten Waldgrund hinein.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: कर्ता (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् शुकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्रीडा-सक्तेषु: (when) absorbed in play
• क्रीडा-सक्तेषु: अधिकरण-विशेषण (Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (क्रीडायां सक्त); क्त (PPP) used adjectivally; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘गोपेषु’

• गोपेषु: among the cowherd boys
• गोपेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• तत्-गावः: their cows
• तत्-गावः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तस्य गावः = their cows); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दूर-चारिणीः: wandering far
• दूर-चारिणीः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दूरे चारिणी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘गावः’

• स्वैरम्: freely
• स्वैरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb of manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative); manner adverb ‘at will/freely’

• चरन्त्यः: grazing/wandering
• चरन्त्यः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with ‘गावः’

• विविशुः: entered
• विविशुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तृण-लोभेन: due to desire for grass
• तृण-लोभेन: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तृणस्य लोभः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• गह्वरम्: a deep thicket/gorge
• गह्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गह्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Gopas (cowherd boys)
• Cows of Vraja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s forest pastimes with the cowherd boys?

This verse sets the scene: while the gopas play, the Vraja cows wander far for grass, leading into the forest narrative that culminates in Krishna’s protective miracle.

Why were the cows roaming far away while the gopas were playing?

Because the boys were absorbed in play, and the cows, moving freely and attracted by fresh grass, strayed into a deep gorge—creating the danger that prompts Krishna’s intervention.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

It highlights how distraction can allow risks to grow unnoticed, and it encourages mindful responsibility—along with faith that divine protection ultimately shelters the sincere.