Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution

Devanagari script

काचिद् रासपरिश्रान्ता पार्श्वस्थस्य गदाभृत: । जग्राह बाहुना स्कन्धं श्लथद्वलयमल्लिका ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

kācid rāsa-pariśrāntā pārśva-sthasya gadā-bhṛtaḥ jagrāha bāhunā skandhaṁ ślathad-valaya-mallikā

Translation

One gopī, weary from the rāsa dance, turned to Kṛṣṇa standing at her side, the bearer of the club, and with her arm grasped His shoulder; the dancing had loosened her bracelets and the flowers in her hair.

Synonyms

• kācit: a certain (woman)
• kācit: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• rāsa-pariśrāntā: wearied by the rāsa (dance)
• rāsa-pariśrāntā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + pari-√śram (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past participle/ktā from √śram with prefix pari-); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'rāse pariśrāntā' = tired from the rāsa-dance

• pārśva-sthasya: of the one standing beside (her)
• pārśva-sthasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'pārśve sthita' = standing at the side

• gadā-bhṛtaḥ: of the mace-bearer
• gadā-bhṛtaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'gadāṃ bibharti' = bearer of the mace (Krishna)

• jagrāha: she seized, took hold
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bāhunā: with (her) arm
• bāhunā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• skandham: shoulder
• skandham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ślathat-valaya-mallikā: (she) whose bangles and jasmine garland were loosened
• ślathat-valaya-mallikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ślathat (√ślath, धातु; vartamāna-kṛdanta) + valaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mallikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (possessive): 'whose bracelets and jasmine (garland) were loosened'; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (agreeing with kācit)

Purport

The previous verse states that Śrī Kṛṣṇa honored the gopīs for their dancing and singing, and in this verse we see how the gopīs responded by dealing intimately and confidently with Him. Here a tired gopī held on to Kṛṣṇa’s shoulder with her arm, resting against Him.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopī (one of the Vraja gopīs)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs’ closeness to Krishna in the Rāsa-līlā?

This verse depicts a gopī, tired from dancing, naturally leaning on Krishna’s shoulder—showing the spontaneous, intimate affection (mādhurya-bhāva) of Vraja-bhakti centered solely on Him.

Why is Krishna called “gadā-bhṛt” (the mace-bearer) in this Rāsa-līlā verse?

The epithet reminds readers that the same Supreme Lord who protects and subdues evil (as the divine warrior) is also the tender beloved of the gopīs—His sweetness and majesty coexist.

What is a practical application of this verse for modern devotional life?

It inspires devotees to seek Krishna as their closest shelter—bringing one’s weariness and struggles to Him with sincerity, while cultivating loving remembrance rather than mere formality.