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Shloka 36

Kṛṣṇa Comforts His Parents, Restores Ugrasena, Studies with Sāndīpani, and Returns the Guru’s Son

सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ । सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥ अहोरात्रैश्चतु:षष्‍ट्या संयत्तौ तावती: कला: । गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप ॥ ३६ ॥

sarvaṁ nara-vara-śreṣṭhau sarva-vidyā-pravartakau sakṛn nigada-mātreṇa tau sañjagṛhatur nṛpa

O King, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—the best of persons and the original source of all knowledge—immediately mastered every subject upon hearing it explained just once. Thus, with steady concentration, They learned the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days and nights, and afterward pleased Their teacher by offering guru-dakṣiṇā.

अहोरात्रैःby days and nights
अहोरात्रैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (अहः + रात्रिः)
चतुः-षष्ठ्याby sixty-four (in number)
चतुः-षष्ठ्या:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootचतुःषष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (64)
संयत्तौdisciplined / restrained
संयत्तौ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootयम् (धातु) → संयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; उपसर्ग: सम्-; विशेषण of तौ
तावतीःso many (that many)
तावतीः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootतावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of कलाः
कलाःarts/skills
कलाः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकला (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
गुरु-दक्षिणयाwith the teacher’s fee (guru-gift)
गुरु-दक्षिणया:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः (गुरवे दक्षिणा)
आचार्यम्the teacher
आचार्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootआचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
छन्दयामासतुःthey pleased/satisfied
छन्दयामासतुः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootछन्द् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; णिच् (causative) भावः: छन्दयति = to please/satisfy; परस्मैपदम्
नृपO king
नृप:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootनृप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

The following list comprises the sixty-four subjects mastered by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma in sixty-four days. Additional information may be found in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
Ś
Śrī Balarāma
K
King Parīkṣit

FAQs

It describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as mastering all knowledge effortlessly—learning fully simply by hearing once—while still honoring the gurukula system.

Śukadeva praises Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Śrī Balarāma as the foremost among men and the original sources of all learning.

Approach learning with sincerity and focus, and remember that true education in the Bhāgavatam is meant to support dharma, humility, and service to the teacher.