Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

आचेरुर्विविधा: क्रीडा वाह्यवाहकलक्षणा: । यत्रारोहन्ति जेतारो वहन्ति च पराजिता: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

ācerur vividhāḥ krīḍā vāhya-vāhaka-lakṣaṇāḥ yatrārohanti jetāro vahanti ca parājitāḥ

Translation

They played many games of carriers and riders: the winners would climb onto the backs of the losers, and the defeated boys had to carry them.

Synonyms

• आचेरुः: they performed/practised
• आचेरुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural); उपसर्ग: आ-

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण

• क्रीडाः: games/sports
• क्रीडाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• वाह्य-वाहक-लक्षणाः: characterized by ‘rider and carrier’
• वाह्य-वाहक-लक्षणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहक (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; ‘having the characteristic of ridden-and-carrier’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (क्रीडाः)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• आरोहन्ति: mount/climb
• आरोहन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• जेतारः: the winners
• जेतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जेतृ (प्रातिपदिक; कृत्)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय (तृच्/तृन् agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• वहन्ति: carry
• वहन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

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

• पराजिताः: the defeated (ones)
• पराजिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराजित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP from परा-जी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

Purport

Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī quotes the following relevant verse from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (5.9.12):

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Vraja-gopāḥ (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s playful games with the cowherd boys?

This verse describes the Vraja boys’ friendly contests—winners riding on the others—showing Kṛṣṇa’s intimate, joyful sakhya (friendship) līlā.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing these simple games in Canto 10?

He highlights that Kṛṣṇa’s divinity is revealed through sweet, humanlike pastimes in Vraja, deepening devotion by showing His closeness to His devotees.

Practical application of sakhya-bhakti (friendship devotion) in modern life?

Cultivate devotion with warmth and intimacy—serve God with trust and affection, and keep spiritual life joyful rather than merely formal.