Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 11

Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow

Mathurā-līlā Prelude

Devanagari script

एवं स्त्रिया याच्यमान: कृष्णो रामस्य पश्यत: । मुखं वीक्ष्यानु गोपानां प्रहसंस्तामुवाच ह ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ striyā yācyamānaḥ kṛṣṇo rāmasya paśyataḥ mukhaṁ vīkṣyānu gopānāṁ prahasaṁs tām uvāca ha

Translation

Thus entreated by the woman, Lord Kṛṣṇa first glanced at Balarāma’s face as he watched the incident, and then at the faces of the cowherd boys. Then, laughing, Kṛṣṇa replied to her.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); thus/in this manner

• स्त्रिया: by the woman
• स्त्रिया: करण (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; by a woman

• याच्यमानः: being entreated
• याच्यमानः: कर्ता (Grammatical subject of passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/Present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; being begged/requested

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; of Rama

• पश्यतः: while (Rama) was watching
• पश्यतः: अधिकरण (Circumstantial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; while (he) was seeing; ‘in the presence of’

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• वीक्ष्य: having glanced
• वीक्ष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; having looked (at)

• अनु: towards/then to
• अनु: क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गार्थ (Adverbial/उपसर्गार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preverb/adverb); after/along; here ‘towards/at’ in sequence

• गोपानाम्: of the cowherds
• गोपानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; of the cowherds

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• प्रहसन्: क्रियाविशेषण (Concomitant action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√हस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; laughing/smiling

• ताम्: to her
• ताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; her

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; said

• ह: indeed
• ह: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• cowherd boys (gopas)
• the woman (Trivakra/Kubja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna responding to a devotee’s request?

This verse shows Krishna being personally approached and entreated, and then responding with a smile—indicating His accessibility and affectionate engagement with those who seek Him.

Why did Krishna glance at the gopas and smile before speaking to the woman (Kubja/Trivakra)?

Krishna’s glance and smile suggest a playful, intimate mood—acknowledging the situation before His companions and then replying, revealing the sweetness of His humanlike pastimes.

Practical application of Krishna’s smiling response in modern life?

Approach spiritual life with sincere request and trust: this verse encourages heartfelt prayer and reminds devotees that the Divine responds with compassion, often in a gentle and personal way.