Shloka 13

Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura

Devanagari script

नोपेयातां यदाहूतौ क्रीडासङ्गेन पुत्रकौ । यशोदां प्रेषयामास रोहिणी पुत्रवत्सलाम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

nopeyātāṁ yadāhūtau krīḍā-saṅgena putrakau yaśodāṁ preṣayām āsa rohiṇī putra-vatsalām

Translation

So absorbed in play, the two boys—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—did not come back when called. Therefore motherly Rohiṇī sent Yaśodā to call Them home.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• उपेयाताम्: the two did not come / should not come
• उपेयाताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√इ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; ‘they two should come/approach’

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (when)

• आहूतौ: (though) called
• आहूतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहूत (कृदन्त, आ-√ह्वे धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = having been called/summoned; ‘पुत्रकौ’ इति विशेषण

• क्रीडा-सङ्गेन: due to attachment to play
• क्रीडा-सङ्गेन: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: क्रीडायाः सङ्गः (attachment to play)

• पुत्रकौ: the two dear boys
• पुत्रकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; स्नेहार्थक-प्रत्यय (diminutive/affectionate)

• यशोदाम्: Yashoda
• यशोदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशोदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रेषयामास: she sent
• प्रेषयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√इष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect; periphrastic), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘sent’ (प्रेषयति)

• रोहिणी: Rohini
• रोहिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुत्र-वत्सलाम्: (Yashoda) affectionate to her son
• पुत्र-वत्सलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष: पुत्रेषु वत्सला (affectionate toward her son)

Purport

Yaśodāṁ preṣayām āsa. These very words show that since Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma did not care to return in response to the order of Rohiṇī, Rohiṇī thought that if Yaśodā called They would have to return, for Yaśodā was more affectionate to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Characters & Entities

• Rohiṇī
• Yaśodā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about motherly affection (vātsalya-bhakti) in Krishna’s Vraja pastimes?

This verse shows vātsalya-bhakti in action: Rohiṇī and Yaśodā relate to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as their beloved children, with spontaneous care and concern even during ordinary moments like calling them from play.

Why did Rohiṇī send for Yaśodā when the boys did not come?

Because the two boys were fully absorbed in play and did not respond to being called; Rohiṇī, deeply affectionate, therefore called Yaśodā to help bring them back—reflecting the intimate, family-like coordination within Vraja.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from Krishna and Balarama being absorbed in play?

The verse highlights the naturalness of the Lord’s humanlike pastimes and the loving attentiveness of devotees; in modern life it encourages cultivating simple, personal devotion—serving and caring for God with the warmth and sincerity of family love.