Shloka 29
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
अथ गोपै: परिवृतो भगवान् देवकीसुत: । वृन्दावनाद्गतो दूरं चारयन् गा: सहाग्रज: ॥ २९ ॥
atha gopaiḥ parivṛto bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ vṛndāvanād gato dūraṁ cārayan gāḥ sahāgrajaḥ
Some time later Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, surrounded by His cowherd friends and accompanied by His elder brother Balarāma, went far from Vṛndāvana, herding the cows.
Having described how Lord Kṛṣṇa stole the garments of the young gopīs, Śukadeva Gosvāmī now begins introducing the description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s blessings upon the wives of some ritualistic brāhmaṇas.
FAQs
This verse describes Kṛṣṇa as Bhagavān Himself, moving with the gopas and herding the cows far from Vṛndāvana, highlighting His intimate Vraja-līlā and sweetness (mādhurya) in daily pastoral life.
Śukadeva identifies Him as Devakī’s son to affirm His true identity as the same Supreme Lord who appeared in Mathurā, even while He performs simple cowherd pastimes in Vraja.
The verse teaches devotion through simplicity—seeing the Divine present in everyday duties and relationships, and practicing steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa while responsibly performing one’s work.