Shloka 17

Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger

Devanagari script

रोहिणी च महाभागा नन्दगोपाभिनन्दिता । व्यचरद् दिव्यवासस्रक्कण्ठाभरणभूषिता ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

rohiṇī ca mahā-bhāgā nanda-gopābhinanditā vyacarad divya-vāsa-srak- kaṇṭhābharaṇa-bhūṣitā

Translation

Die überaus glückliche Rohiṇī, von Nanda und Yaśodā geehrt, kleidete sich in prächtige Gewänder und schmückte sich mit Halskette, Blumengirlande und weiteren Zierden; sie ging hierhin und dorthin, um die weiblichen Gäste des Festes zu empfangen.

Synonyms

• रोहिणी: Rohiṇī
• रोहिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

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

• महाभागा: most fortunate
• महाभागा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); बहुव्रीहि: महत् भाग्यं यस्याः सा ‘very fortunate’

• नन्द-गोप-अभिनन्दिता: praised by Nanda (Gopa)
• नन्द-गोप-अभिनन्दिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दगोप + अभिनन्दित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from अभि-√नन्द्; तृतीया/कर्तृ-तत्पुरुष-भाव: नन्दगोपेन अभिनन्दिता ‘praised by Nanda Gopa’

• व्यचरत्: she moved about
• व्यचरत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; धातु: वि-√चर् ‘to move about’

• दिव्य-वास-स्रक्-कण्ठ-आभरण-भूषिता: adorned with divine clothes, garlands, and neck-ornaments
• दिव्य-वास-स्रक्-कण्ठ-आभरण-भूषिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + वासस् + स्रज्/स्रक् + कण्ठ + आभरण + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √भूष् ‘to adorn’; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: दिव्यानि वासांसि स्रजः कण्ठाभरणानि च येन/यया सा भूषिता ‘adorned with divine garments, garlands, and neck-ornaments’

Purport

Rohiṇī, another wife of Vasudeva’s, was also kept under the care of Nanda Mahārāja with her son Baladeva. Because her husband was imprisoned by Kaṁsa, she was not very happy, but on the occasion of Kṛṣṇa-janmāṣṭamī, Nandotsava, when Nanda Mahārāja gave dresses and ornaments to others, he also gave gorgeous garments and ornaments to Rohiṇī so that she could take part in the festival. Thus she also was busy receiving the women who were guests. Because of her good fortune in being able to raise Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma together, she is described as mahā-bhāgā, greatly fortunate.

Characters & Entities

• Rohiṇī
• Nanda Mahārāja (Nandagopa)

FAQs

Who is Rohiṇī in Srimad Bhagavatam and why is she mentioned in Krishna’s birth celebrations?

Rohiṇī is the mother of Lord Balarāma; in the Vraja celebration of Krishna’s appearance, she is honored in Nanda’s house and is described as joyfully participating, beautifully adorned for the auspicious festival.

What does Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 5 describe about the mood in Nanda Mahārāja’s home?

It portrays a grand, devotional festival atmosphere—residents and honored family members like Rohiṇī move about in divine clothes and ornaments, reflecting overflowing joy at Krishna’s appearance.

How can devotees apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

By celebrating sacred occasions with purity and gratitude—honoring devotees, keeping a joyful devotional mood, and using beauty and festivity as offerings to the Lord rather than mere display.