Shloka 9

The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy

Devanagari script

वत्सेषु वत्सरूपेण प्रविशन्तं जिघांसया । हत्वा न्यपातयत्तेन कपित्थानि च लीलया ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

vatseṣu vatsa-rūpeṇa praviśantaṁ jighāṁsayā hatvā nyapātayat tena kapitthāni ca līlayā

Translation

Um Kṛṣṇa zu töten, drang der Dämon Vatsa in Gestalt eines Kalbes unter die Kälber ein. Doch Śrī Kṛṣṇa tötete ihn und hatte das Spiel, mit seinem Körper Kapittha-Früchte von den Bäumen herabzuschlagen.

Synonyms

• वत्सेषु: among the calves
• वत्सेषु: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• वत्स-रूपेण: in the form of a calf
• वत्स-रूपेण: करण/प्रकार (Instrumental of manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वत्सस्य रूपम् = ‘form of a calf’

• प्रविशन्तम्: entering
• प्रविशन्तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) → प्रविशत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies implied ‘him’)

• जिघांसया: with murderous intent
• जिघांसया: हेतु (Cause/Motive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन् (धातु) → जिघांसā (इच्छार्थक-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of motive): ‘with the intention to kill’

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having killed’

• न्यपातयत्: caused to fall/knocked down
• न्यपातयत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + नि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सकर्मक

• तेन: by him/with that
• तेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कपित्थानि: wood-apples (kapittha fruits)
• कपित्थानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपित्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• लीलया: playfully/as a sport
• लीलया: करण/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; प्रकारे तृतीया (manner)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Vatsāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting the calves from demons?

This verse shows that even when a demon infiltrates in disguise among the calves, Kṛṣṇa immediately destroys the threat and turns the event into a harmless, playful līlā—signifying His constant protection of those under His care.

Why did Vatsasura enter the herd in the form of a calf?

He entered disguised as a calf specifically to get close and kill; the verse highlights the asura’s deceitful intent (jighāṁsayā) and Kṛṣṇa’s effortless victory over hidden danger.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection in modern life?

The shloka teaches vigilance against “disguised” harm (subtle temptations or toxic influences) and encourages steady trust that sincere devotion brings divine guidance and protection through life’s unseen threats.