Shloka 40

Kṛṣṇa Kills Dantavakra; Balarāma’s Pilgrimage and the Slaying of Romaharṣaṇa

Devanagari script

ततश्च भारतं वर्षं परीत्य सुसमाहित: । चरित्वा द्वादश मासांस्तीर्थस्‍नायी विशुध्यसि ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

tataś ca bhārataṁ varṣaṁ parītya su-samāhitaḥ caritvā dvādaśa-māsāṁs tīrtha-snāyī viśudhyasi

Translation

Danach sollst Du zwölf Monate lang das Land Bhārata in ernster Meditation umrunden, Bußübungen vollziehen und an verschiedenen heiligen Pilgerorten baden. Auf diese Weise wirst Du gereinigt werden.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय), ‘then/thereafter/from there’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• bhāratam: Bhārata (Indian)
• bhāratam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhārata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with varṣam

• varṣam: land/region
• varṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• parītya: having traversed
• parītya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pari√i (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्-कृदन्त, अव्ययभाव), ‘having gone around/traversed’

• su-samāhitaḥ: well-composed, fully attentive
• su-samāhitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + samāhita (सम्-आ-√dhā धातु + kta)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त) with intensifier su-; ‘well-composed/concentrated’

• caritvā: having performed
• caritvā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: car (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-कृदन्त, अव्ययभाव), ‘having practiced/undertaken’

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक), indeclinable-like in form here; qualifies māsān

• māsān: months
• māsān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tīrtha-snāyī: bathing at sacred fords
• tīrtha-snāyī: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + snāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: tīrthe snāyī (‘one who bathes at holy places’)

• viśudhyasi: you become purified
• viśudhyasi: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√śudh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī points out that the word viśudhyasi means that Lord Balarāma would achieve spotless fame by setting such a perfect example for the people in general.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) for purification?

This verse states that traveling throughout Bhārata-varṣa with a composed mind and bathing in sacred tīrthas for a year brings purification.

Why did Kṛṣṇa instruct a year-long pilgrimage in this context?

Within the Syamantaka-related narrative, Kṛṣṇa indicates a dhārmic process of atonement and cleansing—undertaken with mental discipline—so the person involved may become purified and socially/spiritually restored.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

Combine outer spiritual practices (pilgrimage, sacred visits, vows) with inner steadiness (susamāhitaḥ): intentional time for sādhana, self-reflection, and disciplined living to cleanse habits and conscience.