Shloka 21

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

उपगीयमानौ ललितं स्त्रीजनैर्बद्धसौहृदै: । स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ स्रग्विनौ विरजोऽम्बरौ ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

upagīyamānau lalitaṁ strī-janair baddha-sauhṛdaiḥ sv-alaṅkṛtānuliptāṅgau sragvinau virajo-’mbarau

Translation

Die Frauen, durch Zuneigung an Sie gebunden, besangen anmutig Ihre Herrlichkeiten; Kṛṣṇa und Balarāma trugen Blumengirlanden, makellose Gewänder, und Ihre Glieder waren gesalbt und schön geschmückt.

Synonyms

• उपगीयमानौ: being sung (praised)
• उपगीयमानौ: विशेषण (Qualifier of तौ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present passive participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (being sung/praised)

• ललितम्: a sweet (song), gracefully
• ललितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as object/‘sweetly’)

• स्त्रीजनैः: by the womenfolk
• स्त्रीजनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument-Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• बद्धसौहृदैः: with bound/firm affection
• बद्धसौहृदैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध + सौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of स्त्रीजनैः)

• स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ: whose bodies were well-adorned and anointed
• स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ: विशेषण (Qualifier of तौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + अलङ्कृत + अनुलिप्त + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘ययोः अङ्गानि स्वलङ्कृतानि च अनुलिप्तानि च’

• स्रग्विनौ: wearing garlands
• स्रग्विनौ: विशेषण (Qualifier of तौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रग्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• विरजः: spotless, dust-free
• विरजः: विशेषण (Qualifier of तौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (dual form used with -au compound below as adjective pair); विशेषण

• अम्बरौ: (their) garments
• अम्बरौ: सम्बन्ध (Apposition to attire)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘विरजः’ इति विशेषणयुक्तम्

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Gopis

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs singing Krishna’s glories?

This verse depicts the gopīs sweetly glorifying Kṛṣṇa (with Balarāma) in song, showing that loving praise and kīrtana arise naturally from deep attachment (baddha-sauhṛda) to the Lord.

Who is being described as ‘the two of Them’ in Bhagavatam 10.34.21?

The verse describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma together—adorned, anointed, garlanded, and dressed in spotless garments—while the Vraja women sing about Them.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern devotional life?

Cultivate steady affection for Bhagavān through devotional singing—regular kīrtana, hearing and chanting His names and qualities—so remembrance becomes sweet and natural, like the gopīs’ spontaneous glorification.