Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

न लब्धो दैवहतयोर्वासो नौ भवदन्तिके । यां बाला: पितृगेहस्था विन्दन्ते लालिता मुदम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

na labdho daiva-hatayor vāso nau bhavad-antike yāṁ bālāḥ pitṛ-geha-sthā vindante lālitā mudam

Translation

Deprived by fate, We could not dwell near you and taste the pampered joy that children, cherished in their parents’ home, naturally enjoy.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• labdhaḥ: obtained
• labdhaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate—'obtained')
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used predicatively

• daiva-hatayoḥ: of us two, smitten by fate
• daiva-hatayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त; हन् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; 'of the two struck by fate'

• vāsaḥ: dwelling/residence
• vāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nau: of us two
• nau: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Dual; here Genitive—'of us two'

• bhavat-antike: near you
• bhavat-antike: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक honorific) + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'in your vicinity'

• yām: which
• yām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun referring to 'mudam' (joy)

• bālāḥ: children
• bālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• pitṛ-geha-sthāḥ: living in their father’s home
• pitṛ-geha-sthāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + geha (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from स्था)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'staying in the father's house' qualifying bālāḥ

• vindante: find/obtain
• vindante: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु; विन्द्)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural; ātmanepada

• lālitāḥ: cherished
• lālitāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lālita (कृदन्त; लालय् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'being cherished' qualifying bālāḥ

• mudam: joy
• mudam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Purport

Here Lord Kṛṣṇa points out that not only did His parents suffer in separation from Him and Balarāma, but the two boys also suffered in separation from Their parents.

Characters & Entities

• Devakī
• Vasudeva
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.45.4 mean in simple English?

Devakī says that because destiny kept her and Vasudeva afflicted, they could not live close to Kṛṣṇa and enjoy raising Him, while ordinary children in their father’s home naturally receive affectionate care and happiness.

Why does Devakī say they were 'struck by fate' in Canto 10 Chapter 45?

Because Kaṁsa’s persecution separated them from their newborn sons—especially Kṛṣṇa—so they were deprived of the normal joy of parenting and living with Him.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about devotion and suffering?

It teaches that painful circumstances can be understood as providential, yet one may still honestly express longing for the Lord; devotional life includes both surrender to destiny and heartfelt love.