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Shloka 16

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Forest Games and the Slaying of Pralamba

एवं तौ लोकसिद्धाभि: क्रीडाभिश्चेरतुर्वने । नद्यद्रिद्रोणिकुञ्जेषु काननेषु सर:सु च ॥ १६ ॥

evaṁ tau loka-siddhābhiḥ krīḍābhiś ceratur vane nady-adri-droṇi-kuñjeṣu kānaneṣu saraḥsu ca

Thus Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma roamed the forest, playing all manner of well-known games among the rivers, hills, valleys, groves, woodlands, and lakes of Vṛndāvana.

एवम्thus
एवम्:
प्रकार (Manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)
तौthose two (Rāma and Kṛṣṇa)
तौ:
कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); सर्वनाम (pronoun)
लोकसिद्धाभिःwith world-famous (games)
लोकसिद्धाभिः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootलोक-सिद्धा (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + सिद्धा)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः: 'लोके सिद्धा' (well-known in the world)
क्रीडाभिःwith games/sports
क्रीडाभिः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootक्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)
चेरतुःthey roamed/played about
चेरतुः:
क्रिया (Verb; action of Kartā)
TypeVerb
Rootचर् (धातु)
Formलिट्/परस्मैपद? (Perfect-like narrative usage in Purāṇic style) actually लङ्-लकारार्थे लिट्/लिट्-प्रयोगः; उत्तम-निश्चितम्: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद
वनेin the forest
वने:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootवन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)
नदी-अद्रि-द्रोणि-कुञ्जेषुin rivers, mountains, valleys, and groves
नदी-अद्रि-द्रोणि-कुञ्जेषु:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootनदी + अद्रि + द्रोणि + कुञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) बहुवचन-आधारः, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः (rivers, mountains, valleys, groves)
काननेषुin woodlands
काननेषु:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootकानन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)
सरःसुin lakes/ponds
सरःसु:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootसरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)
and
:
समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)
K
Kṛṣṇa
B
Balarāma

FAQs

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma roaming the Vraja forests, enjoying world-renowned playful pastimes by rivers, mountain valleys, groves, woodlands, and lakes—revealing the sweetness of Bhagavān’s līlā.

Śukadeva highlights the setting of Vraja to immerse the listener in līlā-smaraṇa (remembrance of divine pastimes) and to show that Kṛṣṇa’s presence sanctifies every feature of the sacred land.

Use it as a prompt for devotional remembrance: regularly hear and contemplate Kṛṣṇa’s līlās, and cultivate a simple, joyful spirit centered on God—turning daily life into an offering rather than mere routine.