Shloka 19

Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate

Devanagari script

अथापराह्ने भगवान् कृष्ण: सङ्कर्षणान्वित: । मथुरां प्राविशद् गोपैर्दिद‍ृक्षु: परिवारित: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

athāparāhne bhagavān kṛṣṇaḥ saṅkarṣaṇānvitaḥ mathurāṁ prāviśad gopair didṛkṣuḥ parivāritaḥ

Translation

Gegen Abend betrat der Herr Śrī Kṛṣṇa, begleitet von Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma) und umringt von den Hirtenknaben, die Stadt Mathurā, begierig sie zu schauen.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse connector/प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/beginning marker)

• अपराह्ने: in the afternoon
• अपराह्ने: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; भगवान् इति विशेष्यस्य नाम

• सङ्कर्षण-अन्वितः: accompanied by Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma)
• सङ्कर्षण-अन्वितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सङ्कर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (इण्) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past participle used adjectivally): ‘युक्त/सहित’ (accompanied)

• मथुराम्: Mathurā
• मथुराम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देश (destination)

• प्राविशत्: entered
• प्राविशत्: क्रिया (Predicate/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √विश् (विश्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘प्रवेशं कृतवान्’

• गोपैः: with the cowherds
• गोपैः: सह/करण (Instrumental/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; सहकारक/सहचर (with companions)

• दिदृक्षुः: wishing to see
• दिदृक्षुः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दृश् (दृश्) + सन् (इच्छार्थक) → दिदृक्षु (कृदन्त; desiderative participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सन्-प्रत्ययजन्य इच्छार्थक रूप (desiderative): ‘द्रष्टुम् इच्छन्’

• परिवारितः: surrounded
• परिवारितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + √वृ (वृञ्) + क्त → परिवारित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle): ‘परितः आवृत/घेरित’ (surrounded)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Sankarshana (Balarama)
• Gopas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna entering Mathura?

This verse states that in the afternoon Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Balarāma, entered Mathurā while being surrounded by the Vraja cowherds who eagerly wanted to see the city.

Why did Krishna go to Mathura with Balarama in Canto 10?

In the narrative flow, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma proceed to Mathurā as part of the unfolding plan that culminates in confronting Kaṁsa; here Śukadeva highlights their entry with the gopas who came to witness Mathurā.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Approach sacred goals with devotional companionship—like Kṛṣṇa with Balarāma—and keep a sincere eagerness to “see” (understand) spiritual culture, as the gopas did with Mathurā.