Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 8

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

यदर्चितं ब्रह्मभवादिभि: सुरै: श्रिया च देव्या मुनिभि: ससात्वतै: । गोचारणायानुचरैश्चरद्वने यद् गोपिकानां कुचकुङ्कुमाङ्कितम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

yad arcitaṁ brahma-bhavādibhiḥ suraiḥ śriyā ca devyā munibhiḥ sa-sātvataiḥ go-cāraṇāyānucaraiś carad vane yad gopikānāṁ kuca-kuṅkumāṅkitam

Translation

Those lotus feet are worshiped by Brahmā, Bhava (Śiva) and the other devas, by the goddess Śrī (Lakṣmī), and by great sages and Vaiṣṇavas. With those very feet the Lord roams the forest herding cows with His companions, and they are anointed with the kuṅkuma from the gopīs’ breasts.

Synonyms

• यत्: that which / which
• यत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; referred object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• अर्चितम्: worshipped
• अर्चितम्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of यत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (worshipped)

• ब्रह्मभवादिभिः: by Brahmā, Śiva, and others
• ब्रह्मभवादिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + भव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समाहार/गण-निर्देश (brahmā-bhavādi = Brahmā, Śiva, etc.)

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• श्रिया: by Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रिया: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देव्या: by the Goddess
• देव्या: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ससात्वतैः: together with the Sātvatas (devotees)
• ससात्वतैः: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय-सह) + सात्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘स-’ उपपद (with the Sātvatas/devotees)

• गोचारणाय: for grazing the cows
• गोचारणाय: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन-दत्त (for the purpose of cow-grazing)

• अनुचरैः: by attendants
• अनुचरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• चरद्: roaming
• चरद्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-सम्बन्ध, सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (agreeing with implied subject; ‘while roaming’)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; same referent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (repetition for emphasis)

• गोपिकानाम्: of the cowherd women
• गोपिकानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; of the gopīs)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• कुचकुङ्कुमाङ्कितम्: marked with the saffron from (their) breasts
• कुचकुङ्कुमाङ्कितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of यत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुच + कुङ्कुम + अङ्कित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (kuca-kuṅkuma-aṅkita = marked with saffron from breasts)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śiva (Bhava)
• Śrī/Lakṣmī
• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs
• Sātvatas (Vaiṣṇavas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the glory of Krishna’s lotus feet?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa’s feet are worshiped by Brahmā, Śiva, Lakṣmī, sages, and devotees—yet in Vṛndāvana they are intimately marked by the gopīs’ kuṅkuma, revealing the highest sweetness of bhakti.

Why does Akrura mention Brahma, Shiva, and Lakshmi while thinking of Krishna in Vrindavana?

Akrūra contrasts the Lord’s universal worship (by the greatest devas and Lakṣmī) with His intimate Vraja-līlā, showing that Kṛṣṇa who is supreme to all is still conquered by the love of His devotees.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Honor God’s greatness, but cultivate personal devotion—serve with sincerity and love, not merely ritual prestige—because intimate bhakti is portrayed as the highest spiritual achievement.