Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

कदाचिद् यमुनातीरे वत्सांश्चारयतो: स्वकै: । वयस्यै: कृष्णबलयोर्जिघांसुर्दैत्य आगमत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

kadācid yamunā-tīre vatsāṁś cārayatoḥ svakaiḥ vayasyaiḥ kṛṣṇa-balayor jighāṁsur daitya āgamat

Translation

One day, as Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, with their companions, were tending the calves on the bank of the Yamunā, another demon came there, intent on killing Them.

Synonyms

• कदाचित्: once, at a certain time
• कदाचित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time: once/sometime)

• यमुना-तीरे: on the bank of the Yamunā
• यमुना-तीरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तीर); सप्तमी (7th/locative); एकवचन; देशाधिकरण (location)

• वत्सान्: calves
• वत्सान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• चारयतोः: of the two (boys) grazing (them)
• चारयतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: णिच् causative (चारय-); वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनसमरूपम्—अत्र षष्ठी (genitive) ‘of the two who were grazing’

• स्वकैः: with their own
• स्वकैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental); बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vayasyaiḥ)

• वयस्यैः: with (their) friends
• वयस्यैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental); बहुवचन; सह-योगे (companionship)

• कृष्ण-बलयोः: of Krishna and Balarāma
• कृष्ण-बलयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive); द्विवचन; ‘कृष्णश्च बलश्च’ (Krishna and Balarāma)

• जिघांसुः: desiring to kill
• जिघांसुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: इच्छार्थक सन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (desiderative participle); प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; ‘to wish to kill’

• दैत्यः: a demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); एकवचन

• आगमत्: came
• आगमत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Characters & Entities

• Yamunā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Cowherd boys (vayasyāḥ)
• Daitya (demon, later identified in context as Vatsāsura)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demons attacking Krishna in Vrindavan?

This verse describes how, even during Kṛṣṇa’s simple cowherd pastime on the Yamunā’s bank, a demon comes with the intention to kill Him—highlighting the repeated asuric opposition to the Lord’s Vraja-līlā.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrate the arrival of the demon while Krishna was grazing calves?

To set the scene of Kṛṣṇa’s innocent pastoral pastime and then contrast it with the demon’s violent intent, showing how the Lord protects His friends and destroys threats to Vraja.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection theme in modern life?

A devotee continues simple, sincere devotional life despite disturbances, trusting that remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and steady bhakti bring inner protection and clarity amid “demonic” obstacles like fear, envy, and hostility.