Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 19

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

एवं निगूढात्मगति: स्वमायया गोपात्मजत्वं चरितैर्विडम्बयन् । रेमे रमालालितपादपल्लवो ग्राम्यै: समं ग्राम्यवदीशचेष्टित: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ nigūḍhātma-gatiḥ sva-māyayā gopātmajatvaṁ caritair viḍambayan reme ramā-lālita-pāda-pallavo grāmyaiḥ samaṁ grāmya-vad īśa-ceṣṭitaḥ

Translation

Thus the Supreme Lord, whose tender lotus feet are attended by Goddess Lakṣmī, concealed His transcendental majesty by His internal potency and playfully acted as the son of a cowherd. Yet while sporting like a village boy among the villagers, He would often display feats possible only for God.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• nigūḍha-ātma-gatiḥ: (He) whose self-course was concealed
• nigūḍha-ātma-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigūḍha (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः गतिः) तथा विशेषणपूर्वपद (निगूढा)

• sva-māyayā: by his own māyā
• sva-māyayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—स्वा माया

• gopa-ātmajatvam: the state of being a cowherd’s son
• gopa-ātmajatvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोपस्य आत्मजः) + तद्धितान्त (त्व)

• caritaiḥ: by (his) deeds/acts
• caritaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (कृदन्त; √car चर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भूतकृत्/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (past conduct/deeds)

• viḍambayan: mocking/feigning
• viḍambayan: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viḍambay (धातु; √viḍamb/viḍambay)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• reme: he sported/enjoyed
• reme: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• ramā-lālita-pāda-pallavaḥ: he whose tender feet were caressed by Lakṣmī
• ramā-lālita-pāda-pallavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक) + lālita (कृदन्त; √lāl) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + pallava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य पादपल्लवः रमया लालितः

• grāmyaiḥ: with the rustic cowherds
• grāmyaiḥ: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-करण; accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘ग्राम्य’ = ग्रामवासी (villagers/cowherds)

• samam: together with
• samam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); सहार्थक (adverb: together/equally)

• grāmya-vat: like a rustic
• grāmya-vat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘वत्’ प्रत्ययान्त—उपमान/तुल्यवाचक (like/as)

• īśa-ceṣṭitaḥ: the Lord’s activity/behavior
• īśa-ceṣṭitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ceṣṭita (कृदन्त; √ceṣṭ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ईशस्य चेष्टितम्)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• Gopa boys (Vraja cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna hiding His divinity in Vrindavan?

This verse says the Lord’s true nature is “deeply concealed,” and by His own māyā He playfully imitates being a cowherd’s son, enjoying with the village boys as if ordinary, though He remains the supreme controller.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Krishna as acting like a common villager (grāmya-vat)?

To highlight the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja-līlā: He chooses intimacy over majesty, behaving like a simple cowherd boy so devotees can relate to Him in love, even while His actions remain those of the Supreme Lord.

Practical application: how can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

Approach God with simple, sincere devotion rather than only awe; recognize that the Divine may work quietly and intimately in everyday life, so cultivate humility, friendship in bhakti, and steady remembrance.