Shloka 36

The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire

Devanagari script

इति प्रवालस्तबकफलपुष्पदलोत्करै: । तरूणां नम्रशाखानां मध्यतो यमुनां गत: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

iti pravāla-stabaka- phala-puṣpa-dalotkaraiḥ tarūṇāṁ namra-śākhānāṁ madhyato yamunāṁ gataḥ

Translation

Thus, moving among the trees whose branches bent low under the abundance of tender twigs, fruits, flowers, and leaves, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa came to the Yamunā River.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Prayojaka (प्रयोग-निपात/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle: thus)

• प्रवाल-स्तबक-फल-पुष्प-दल-उत्करैः: with heaps of tender shoots, clusters, fruits, flowers, and leaves
• प्रवाल-स्तबक-फल-पुष्प-दल-उत्करैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तबक (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहारार्थक-तत्पुरुषः—(प्रवालादीनां) उत्करैः (heaps of tender shoots, clusters, fruits, flowers, leaves)

• तरूणाम्: of the trees
• तरूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नम्र-शाखानाम्: of (their) bending branches
• नम्र-शाखानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः—नम्राः शाखाः यस्य (bending branches)

• मध्यतः: from the midst
• मध्यतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्यतः (अव्यय/तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from the middle)

• यमुनाम्: to the Yamunā (river)
• यमुनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गतः: (he) went
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate—participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृत्/क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत्/विधेय (having gone)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Yamunā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Yamunā in Krishna’s Vraja pastimes?

This verse depicts Kṛṣṇa approaching the Yamunā, presenting her as the sacred setting where His intimate Vṛndāvana pastimes unfold amid nature’s abundant beauty.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe trees with bowed branches in this verse?

The imagery highlights Vraja’s devotional atmosphere—nature itself appears humble and offering, as if the trees bow in reverence while Kṛṣṇa passes toward the Yamunā.

How can devotees apply this verse in modern spiritual practice?

One can practice bhakti by contemplatively hearing and visualizing Kṛṣṇa’s Vṛndāvana līlā, letting the mind rest on His presence and the sacred setting rather than on distraction.