Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

तत्र चक्रु: परिवृढौ गोपा रामजनार्दनौ । कृष्णसङ्घट्टिन: केचिदासन् रामस्य चापरे ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tatra cakruḥ parivṛḍhau gopā rāma-janārdanau kṛṣṇa-saṅghaṭṭinaḥ kecid āsan rāmasya cāpare

Translation

There the cowherd boys chose Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as the leaders of the two parties. Some took Kṛṣṇa’s side, and others joined Balarāma.

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• चक्रुः: they made/formed
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• परिवृढौ: the two leaders/elders
• परिवृढौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (dual); विशेषण (qualifying)

• गोपाः: cowherd boys
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• राम-जनार्दनौ: Rama and Janardana (Krishna)
• राम-जनार्दनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (dual)

• कृष्ण-सङ्घट्टिनः: those paired/contending with Krishna
• कृष्ण-सङ्घट्टिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्घट्टिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘of/with Krishna’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana)
• Balarāma (Rāma)
• Gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna and Balarama playing with the gopas?

This verse describes the gopas dividing into two teams, one rallying around Kṛṣṇa and the other around Balarāma, showing the intimacy of their friendly play in Vraja.

Why do the cowherd boys form groups around Krishna and Balarama in Bhagavatam 10.18?

In the flow of their forest sports, the boys naturally accept Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as the leading figures and arrange themselves into opposing sides for playful competition.

How can sakhya-bhakti (friendship with God) be practiced in modern life?

By cultivating a warm, trusting relationship with Kṛṣṇa—remembering Him, speaking to Him in prayer, serving with affection, and reading His Vraja pastimes to deepen loving familiarity.