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Shloka 7

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

गोपीभि: स्तोभितोऽनृत्यद् भगवान्बालवत्‍क्‍वचित् । उद्गायति क्‍वचिन्मुग्धस्तद्वशो दारुयन्त्रवत् ॥ ७ ॥

gopībhiḥ stobhito ’nṛtyad bhagavān bālavat kvacit udgāyati kvacin mugdhas tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat

Urged on by the gopīs with clapping and sweet promises, the Lord would sometimes dance like a little child; though all-powerful Bhagavān, He smiled and moved according to their wish, as if a wooden doll in their hands, and at times sang loudly at their bidding, thus coming fully under their sway.

गोपीभिःby the cowherd women
गोपीभिः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootगोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन
स्तोभितःbeing prompted/urged (by chants)
स्तोभितः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्तुभ् (धातु) → स्तोभित (कृदन्त, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (past passive participle)
अनृत्यत्danced
अनृत्यत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootनृत् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
भगवान्the Lord
भगवान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
बालवत्like a child
बालवत्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootबाल (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
Formअव्यय (adverbial usage of -वत्), उपमानार्थ (like/as)
क्वचित्sometimes
क्वचित्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्वचित् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: sometimes/at some place)
उद्गायतिsings aloud
उद्गायति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउद् + गै (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
क्वचित्sometimes
क्वचित्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्वचित् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय
मुग्धःinnocent/naive
मुग्धः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
तद्वशःunder their control
तद्वशः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य वशः = under their control)
दारुयन्त्रवत्like a wooden puppet
दारुयन्त्रवत्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदारु (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
Formअव्यय (adverbial -वत्); तत्पुरुष-समास (दारुयन्त्र = wooden puppet/device)
K
Kṛṣṇa
G
Gopīs

FAQs

This verse shows that although Kṛṣṇa is Bhagavān, He willingly comes under the influence of the gopīs’ loving affection, behaving like a child who dances and sings at their urging.

In Vṛndāvana-līlā, their pure, selfless devotion (bhakti) and intimacy (mādhurya/vātsalya) draw Kṛṣṇa into playful obedience, revealing that love binds the Lord more than power or majesty.

Cultivate sincere devotion and simplicity—service done with affection and humility attracts divine grace more than display, status, or mere ritual formality.