Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 1
Kṛṣṇa Swallows the Forest Fire (Dāvāgni-līlā) and Restores the Herd
श्रीशुक उवाच क्रीडासक्तेषु गोपेषु तद्गावो दूरचारिणी: । स्वैरं चरन्त्यो विविशुस्तृणलोभेन गह्वरम् ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca krīḍāsakteṣu gopeṣu tad-gāvo dūra-cāriṇīḥ svairaṁ carantyo viviśus tṛṇa-lobhena gahvaram
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: While the cowherd boys were absorbed in play, their cows wandered far away. Drawn by the desire for grass and unwatched, they entered a deep, dense forest.
FAQs
This verse sets the scene: while the gopas play, the Vraja cows wander far for grass, leading into the forest narrative that culminates in Krishna’s protective miracle.
Because the boys were absorbed in play, and the cows, moving freely and attracted by fresh grass, strayed into a deep gorge—creating the danger that prompts Krishna’s intervention.
It highlights how distraction can allow risks to grow unnoticed, and it encourages mindful responsibility—along with faith that divine protection ultimately shelters the sincere.