Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 59

Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus

Beginnings

Devanagari script

तासां पतत्रै: सुस्पर्शै: कूजितैर्मुग्धचेष्टितै: । प्रत्युद्गमैरदीनानां पितरौ मुदमापतु: ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

prajāḥ pupuṣatuḥ prītau dampatī putra-vatsalau śṛṇvantau kūjitaṁ tāsāṁ nirvṛtau kala-bhāṣitaiḥ

Translation

Durch die sanfte Berührung der Flügel ihrer Jungen, ihr süßes Gurren, ihre unschuldigen Bewegungen und ihr Entgegenlaufen wurden die Eltern-Tauben von großer Freude erfüllt.

Synonyms

• prajāḥ: the offspring
• prajāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pupuṣatuḥ: they two nourished
• pupuṣatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puṣ (धातु)
• Form: Dhātu: √puṣ (पुष्, to nourish), Lakāra: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada

• prītau: being delighted
• prītau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); predicate adjective for dampatī

• dampatī: the couple (husband and wife)
• dampatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dampatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• putra-vatsalau: affectionate toward their children
• putra-vatsalau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (पुत्रे वत्सल), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); agrees with dampatī

• śṛṇvantau: listening
• śṛṇvantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), from √śru (श्रु), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); agrees with dampatī

• kūjitam: the chirping
• kūjitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūjita (प्रातिपदिक; √kūj)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāsām: of them (their)
• tāsām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nirvṛtau: fully satisfied/pleased
• nirvṛtau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); predicate adjective for dampatī

• kala-bhāṣitaiḥ: by (their) sweet utterances
• kala-bhāṣitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kala (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣita (प्रातिपदिक; √bhāṣ)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कलं भाषितं), Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Avadhūta (Dattātreya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to children and family?

This verse shows how the parents’ joy arises from affectionate contact and the innocent behavior of their young—illustrating how strong family attachment naturally forms and can later become a source of bondage if not guided by spiritual detachment.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the joy of the parent birds in Canto 11 Chapter 7?

He narrates the avadhūta’s teaching story: by first showing the sweetness of affection, the Bhagavatam then reveals how such attachment can lead to suffering and captivity, urging discernment and vairāgya.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Love and care for family sincerely, but avoid possessiveness—keep duties anchored in dharma and bhakti, remembering that lasting security comes from devotion to the Lord rather than emotional dependency.