Shloka 4

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

तथाघवदनान्मृत्यो रक्षित्वा वत्सपालकान् । सरित्पुलिनमानीय भगवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tathāgha-vadanān mṛtyo rakṣitvā vatsa-pālakān sarit-pulinam ānīya bhagavān idam abravīt

Translation

Then Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, having saved the cowherd boys and calves from the mouth of Aghāsura, death personified, brought them to the riverbank and spoke these words.

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-अर्थे (adverb of manner)

• अघ-वदनात्: from the mouth of the demon Agha
• अघ-वदनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ-वदन (प्रातिपदिक) = अघ + वदन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘अघं वदनं यस्य/अघस्य वदनम्’)

• मृत्योः: of death
• मृत्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• रक्षित्वा: having protected
• रक्षित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having protected’

• वत्स-पालकान्: the calf-herd boys
• वत्स-पालकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स-पालक (प्रातिपदिक) = वत्स + पालक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वत्सानां पालकाः’)

• सरित्-पुलिनम्: the river-bank
• सरित्-पुलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित्-पुलिन (प्रातिपदिक) = सरित् + पुलिन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘सरितः पुलिनम्’ = river-bank)

• आनीय: having brought (them)
• आनीय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund); ‘having brought’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vatsapālakāḥ (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting His devotees from danger?

This verse states that Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally protected the cowherd boys from a deathly peril, showing His role as the direct guardian of those under His shelter.

Why did Krishna bring the cowherd boys to the riverbank (sarit-pulinam)?

After saving them, Kṛṣṇa led them to the riverbank—a calm setting—so He could address them and continue the pastime in an orderly, reassuring way.

How can a devotee apply this verse in modern life?

Remember Kṛṣṇa as the protector in times of fear, and respond to crises by taking shelter in devotion and steadiness rather than panic.