Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

एवं लीलानरवपुर्नृलोकमनुशीलयन् । रेमे गोगोपगोपीनां रमयन् रूपवाक्कृतै: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ līlā-nara-vapur nr-lokam anuśīlayan reme go-gopa-gopīnāṁ ramayan rūpa-vāk-kṛtaiḥ

Translation

Thus the Supreme Lord, assuming a humanlike form for His līlās, followed the ways of human society. With His beauty, words, and deeds He delighted the cows, His cowherd friends, and the gopīs, and He Himself enjoyed.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• लीला-नर-वपुः: (He) whose form was human as a pastime
• लीला-नर-वपुः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + नर (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्ष: ‘लीलया नरवपुः’—playfully human-bodied); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नृलोकम्: the world of men
• नृलोकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नॄणां लोकः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुशीलयन्: practising/engaging in
• अनुशीलयन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Participle qualifying subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-शील (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘practising/observing’

• रेमे: he sported/enjoyed
• रेमे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गो-गोप-गोपीनाम्: of the cows, cowherd boys, and cowherd girls
• गो-गोप-गोपीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर: cows, cowherd boys, cowherd girls); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• रमयन्: delighting (them)
• रमयन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; णिजन्त: रमयति = to delight

• रूप-वाक्-कृतैः: by (his) form, words, and actions
• रूप-वाक्-कृतैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (रूपं च वाक् च कृतयः च—by form, speech, and deeds); तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopas
• Gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna appearing in a humanlike form (līlā-nara-vapuḥ)?

This verse explains that Kṛṣṇa adopts a humanlike form as part of His līlā, moving among people while remaining divine, so that His devotees can relate to Him and relish loving exchanges.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 10.23.37 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this narration to King Parīkṣit, describing Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja pastimes and how He pleased the Vrajavāsīs.

How can I apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Cultivate devotion by remembering Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, words, and deeds—through hearing and chanting—and bring joy to others through truthful speech, kind actions, and a life centered on spiritual remembrance.