Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

द‍ृष्ट्वा प्रलम्बं निहतं बलेन बलशालिना । गोपा: सुविस्मिता आसन्साधु साध्विति वादिन: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā pralambaṁ nihataṁ balena bala-śālinā gopāḥ su-vismitā āsan sādhu sādhv iti vādinaḥ

Translation

Seeing mighty Balarāma slay the demon Pralamba, the cowherd boys were struck with wonder and cried out, “Excellent! Excellent!”

Synonyms

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), from √दृश्; ‘having seen’

• प्रलम्बम्: Pralamba
• प्रलम्बम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• निहतम्: killed/slain
• निहतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with ‘प्रलम्बम्’ (killed)

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• बलशालिना: by the strong one
• बलशालिना: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल-शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (बलस्य शालिन् = possessing strength); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; qualifies implied agent (Balarāma)

• गोपाः: the cowherd boys
• गोपाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• सुविस्मिताः: greatly astonished
• सुविस्मिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-विस्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (सु + विस्मित); क्त (PPP) used adjectivally; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with ‘गोपाः’

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रशंसावाचक (particle of approval)

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्त प्रशंसा

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotation marker (इति-प्रयोग)

• वादिनः: saying (so)
• वादिनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘speaking/saying’

Characters & Entities

• Pralamba
• Balarāma
• Gopāḥ (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Balarama killing Pralamba?

This verse describes the cowherd boys witnessing Pralamba’s death at the hands of the immensely strong Balarāma and praising him with repeated cries of “Sādhu! Sādhu!”

Why did the cowherd boys say “sādhu sādhu” after Pralamba was killed?

They were astonished to see Balarāma’s extraordinary strength and the sudden deliverance of Vraja from danger, so they spontaneously glorified him for the heroic deed.

Practical application of glorifying saintly deeds in modern life?

Cultivate the habit of acknowledging and praising genuinely protective, dharmic actions—this strengthens gratitude, devotion, and faith that divine support appears through the Lord and His devotees.