Shloka 18

Balarāma Visits Vraja: Consoling the Gopīs and Dragging the Yamunā

Devanagari script

पूर्णचन्द्रकलामृष्टे कौमुदीगन्धवायुना । यमुनोपवने रेमे सेविते स्‍त्रीगणैर्वृत: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

pūrṇa-candra-kalā-mṛṣṭe kaumudī-gandha-vāyunā yamunopavane reme sevite strī-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

Translation

In a garden by the Yamunā, bathed in the rays of the full moon and caressed by breezes fragrant with night-blooming kumudinī lotuses, Lord Balarāma sported, surrounded by many women.

Synonyms

• pūrṇa-candra-kalā-mṛṣṭe: in (the place) touched/brightened by the full-moon’s rays
• pūrṇa-candra-kalā-mṛṣṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √mṛj मृज्)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; समासः: पूर्णचन्द्रस्य कलया मृष्टे (instrumental sense implied)

• kaumudī-gandha-vāyunā: by the breeze fragrant with moonlight-night scent
• kaumudī-gandha-vāyunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaumudī (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः: कौमुद्याः गन्धः यस्य सः वायुः (determinative)

• yamunā-upavane: in the grove by the Yamunā
• yamunā-upavane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yamunā (प्रातिपदिक) + upavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समासः: यमुनायाः उपवनम्

• reme: he enjoyed/sported
• reme: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (रम्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sevite: in (the grove) frequented/attended
• sevite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sevita (कृदन्त; √sev सेव्)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; agrees with (yamunā-upavane)

• strī-gaṇaiḥ: by groups of women
• strī-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः: स्त्रीणां गणाः

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ वृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past passive participle (क्त)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Lord Balarāma’s conjugal pastimes took place in a small forest alongside the Yamunā, a place known as Śrīrāma-ghaṭṭa, which is far from the site of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa dance.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Yamunā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna's pastimes by the Yamuna?

In this verse (10.65.18), Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa enjoying in a Yamunā grove under the full moon, with fragrant breezes and the company of women attendants—an aesthetic setting highlighting His divine līlā.

Why is Krishna described as enjoying under the full moon in Bhagavatam 10.65?

The full moon, cooling moonlight, and jasmine-scented breeze create the classic rasa-filled atmosphere of nocturnal līlā, emphasizing Kṛṣṇa as the supreme enjoyer whose pastimes are spiritual and devotion-awakening.

Practical application of Krishna-lila meditation in modern life?

Contemplating Kṛṣṇa’s pure, joy-filled līlā helps redirect the mind from restless sense-gratification toward devotion, beauty, and remembrance of God—supporting steadiness in sādhana and inner peace.