Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

तदा बकारिं सुरलोकवासिन: समाकिरन् नन्दनमल्लिकादिभि: । समीडिरे चानकशङ्खसंस्तवै- स्तद् वीक्ष्य गोपालसुता विसिस्मिरे ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

tadā bakāriṁ sura-loka-vāsinaḥ samākiran nandana-mallikādibhiḥ samīḍire cānaka-śaṅkha-saṁstavais tad vīkṣya gopāla-sutā visismire

Translation

At that time, the celestial denizens of the higher planetary system showered mallikā-puṣpa, flowers grown in Nandana-kānana, upon Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Bakāsura. They also congratulated Him by sounding celestial kettledrums and conchshells and by offering prayers. Seeing this, the cowherd boys were struck with wonder.

Synonyms

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• बकारिम्: the slayer/enemy of Baka (Krishna)
• बकारिम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक-अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बकस्य अरिः)

• सुरलोकवासिनः: the dwellers of the heavenly world (gods)
• सुरलोकवासिनः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-लोक-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुरलोकस्य वासी)

• समाकिरन्: they showered/strewn
• समाकिरन्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+कॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• नन्दनमल्लिकादिभिः: with nandana-mallikā and other flowers
• नन्दनमल्लिकादिभिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन-मल्लिका-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थः (नन्दनमल्लिका च आदि च)

• समीडिरे: they praised
• समीडिरे: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+ईड् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आनकशङ्खसंस्तवैः: with praises accompanied by kettle-drums and conches
• आनकशङ्खसंस्तवैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनक-शङ्ख-संस्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आनकशङ्खैः कृताः संस्तवाः)

• तत्: that (event/sight)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक (having seen)

• गोपालसुताः: the cowherd boys’ daughters / cowherd children (here: cowherd boys)
• गोपालसुताः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल-सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपालानां सुताः)

• विसिस्मिरे: they were amazed
• विसिस्मिरे: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+स्मि (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Bakāri)
• Devas (sura-loka-vāsinaḥ)
• Gopāla-sutāḥ (cowherd boys)

FAQs

Why do the devas shower flowers on Krishna in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because Kṛṣṇa’s divine victory and protection of Vraja are recognized even in the heavenly realms; the devas honor Him by raining celestial flowers and offering praises.

Who is called Bakari (Bakāri) in the Bhagavata Purana?

Bakāri is Kṛṣṇa, addressed as “the slayer of Bakāsura,” highlighting His role as protector of His devotees and destroyer of demonic forces.

What is the practical lesson from the devas praising Krishna and the boys’ amazement?

Devotion grows by recognizing divine protection in everyday life—when grace appears unexpectedly, respond with gratitude and remembrance rather than taking it as ordinary.