Shloka 31

समेत्य गावोऽधो वत्सान् वत्सवत्योऽप्यपाययन् । गिलन्त्य इव चाङ्गानि लिहन्त्य: स्वौधसं पय: ॥ ३१ ॥

sametya gāvo ’dho vatsān vatsavatyo ’py apāyayan gilantya iva cāṅgāni lihantyaḥ svaudhasaṁ payaḥ

Coming down, the cows met the calves. Though they had newly calved, their affection swelled for the older calves: they let them drink from their udders and then, in anxious love, licked their bodies as if wishing to swallow them.

sametyahaving approached
sametya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-√i (सम् + इ धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive); ‘having come together/approached’
gāvaḥthe cows
gāvaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgo (गो प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन
adhaḥdown/below
adhaḥ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootadhaḥ (अधः अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; स्थानवाचक (adverb of place) ‘down/below’
vatsānthe calves
vatsān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvatsa (वत्स प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन
vatsavatyaḥ(those) having calves
vatsavatyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvatsavatī (वत्सवती प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘having calves’ (qualifying gāvaḥ)
apialso
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अपि अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’
apāyayanmade (them) drink / suckled
apāyayan:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpā (पा धातु)
Formणिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) ‘to make drink’; लङ् (Imperfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन
gilantyaḥswallowing (as if)
gilantyaḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootgil (गिल् धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘as if swallowing’
ivaas if
iva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (इव अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (च अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)
aṅgānilimbs
aṅgāni:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootaṅga (अङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन
lihantyaḥlicking
lihantyaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootlih (लिह् धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘licking’
sva-udhasamtheir own udders
sva-udhasam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (स्व प्रातिपदिक) + udhas (उधस् प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय: ‘their own udder’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (udhas); द्वितीया एकवचन
payaḥmilk
payaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpayas (पयस् प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक
K
Kṛṣṇa
V
Vraja-gopāla boys
C
calves (vatsāḥ)
M
mother cows of Vraja

FAQs

This verse shows the mother cows’ overwhelming vatsalya (parental affection): despite being full of milk, they nursed again and licked the calves as if to absorb them—revealing extraordinary love awakened by Krishna’s presence.

In the Brahmā-vimohana-līlā, Krishna expanded Himself to become the calves (and later the boys). Because the calves were Krishna, the cows’ natural affection intensified into a divine, irresistible love.

Cultivate steady, selfless care in devotion—serving Krishna with the tenderness and consistency of a parent’s love, offering daily attention (hearing, chanting, service) even when one feels “already full” or busy.