Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

क्रीडिष्यमाणस्तन् कृष्णो भगवान् बलसंयुत: । वेणुं विरणयन् गोपैर्गोधनै: संवृतोऽविशत् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

krīḍiṣyamāṇas tat krṣṇo bhagavān bala-saṁyutaḥ veṇuṁ viraṇayan gopair go-dhanaiḥ saṁvṛto ’viśat

Translation

Wishing to enjoy His pastimes, Lord Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Balarāma and surrounded by the gopa boys and the cows, entered the forest of Vṛndāvana while sweetly playing His flute.

Synonyms

• क्रीडिष्यमाणः: about to play
• क्रीडिष्यमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) + स्य (भविष्यत्) + शानच् → क्रीडिष्यमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कालिक-कर्तरि-प्रवृत्त कृदन्त (future participle, ‘about to play’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: then/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (then/that)

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बल: Bala (Balarāma)
• बल: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; Balarāma/strength)

• संयुतः: accompanied by Balarāma
• संयुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) + क्त → संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बल-सम्युतः = ‘joined with Bala’); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेणुम्: flute
• वेणुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• विरणयन्: playing (sounding)
• विरणयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रण्/रणय् (धातु; denom. from रण ‘sound’) + शतृ → विरणयन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘making sound/playing’ (qualifies subject)

• गोपैः: with cowherd boys
• गोपैः: Saha (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/साधन), बहुवचन

• गो: cow
• गो: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound; cow)

• धनैः: with the cows
• धनैः: Saha (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गो-धनैः = ‘with cow-wealth’, i.e., cows); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• संवृतः: surrounded
• संवृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + वृ (धातु) + क्त → संवृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘surrounded’

• अविशत्: entered
• अविशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna entering the Vrindavan forest with His flute?

In Canto 10, Chapter 18, this verse describes Kṛṣṇa entering the forest with Balarāma, surrounded by the cowherd boys and cows, while making His flute resound—highlighting His sweet Vraja-līlā meant for devotional remembrance.

Why is Balarama mentioned as accompanying Krishna in this verse?

The narration emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa’s forest pastimes are shared with His elder brother Balarāma, who joins and strengthens these Vraja sports, underscoring their intimate companionship in Vṛndāvana.

Practical application of Krishna’s flute pastime in modern life?

Use this verse for bhakti-smaraṇa: pause daily to remember Kṛṣṇa’s playful presence in Vraja, and let sacred sound (kīrtana/japa) become the “flute-call” that draws the mind away from anxiety toward devotion.