Shloka 17

The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti

Devanagari script

गाश्चारयन् स गोपालै: सरामो दूरमागत: । बुभुक्षितस्य तस्यान्नं सानुगस्य प्रदीयताम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

gāś cārayan sa gopālaiḥ sa-rāmo dūram āgataḥ bubhukṣitasya tasyānnaṁ sānugasya pradīyatām

Translation

He has come a long way with the cowherd boys and Lord Balarāma, tending the cows. Now He is hungry, so please give food for Him and His companions.

Synonyms

• gāḥ: cows
• gāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• cārayan: grazing (them) / causing to graze
• cārayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Causative present participle (णिच् + शतृ), from √चर् → चालयति/चारयति; Masculine, Nominative, Singular agreeing with ‘saḥ’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• gopālaiḥ: with the cowherd boys
• gopālaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं—सहकर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• sa-rāmaḥ: together with Rāma
• sa-rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; अव्ययीभाव: ‘sa-’ = ‘with’ + ‘rāma’

• dūram: far
• dūram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (अव्ययीभाववत्/क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘far’

• āgataḥ: has come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त) from √गम् with prefix आ-; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate to ‘saḥ’

• bubhukṣitasya: of the hungry one
• bubhukṣitasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bubhukṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Desiderative-based adjective/PPP usage; from √भुज् (desid. बुभुक्ष-) ‘to wish to eat’; Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• sa-anugasya: along with his companions
• sa-anugasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + anuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; अव्ययीभाव: ‘sa-’ = with + ‘anuga’ = followers/companions

• pradīyatām: let (it) be given
• pradīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘let it be given’

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Gopala boys

FAQs

Why did Krishna send the cowherd boys to ask the brahmanas for food in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.23?

Through this request, Kṛṣṇa created an opportunity to reveal that devotion and willingness to serve Him is higher than mere ritual performance; the hungry Lord’s simple appeal tests the heart.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 10.23.17 and to whom is it spoken?

The cowherd boys speak to the brāhmaṇas engaged in sacrifice, requesting food for Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, and their companions.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

Prioritize practical service—feeding and caring for devotees, and offering food to God with sincerity—over pride in external religiosity.