Shloka 32

Balarāma Visits Vraja: Consoling the Gopīs and Dragging the Yamunā

Devanagari script

वसित्वा वाससी नीले मालामामुच्य काञ्चनीम् । रेये स्वलङ्कृतो लिप्तो माहेन्द्र इव वारण: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

vasitvā vāsasī nīle mālāṁ āmucya kāñcanīm reye sv-alaṅkṛto lipto māhendra iva vāraṇaḥ

Translation

Dressing in blue garments and wearing a golden necklace, anointed with fragrances and beautifully adorned, Lord Balarāma shone resplendent like Indra’s royal elephant, Airāvata.

Synonyms

• वसित्वा: having put on
• वसित्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having worn/donned’

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; accusative dual ‘two garments’

• नीले: blue
• नीले: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; qualifying वाससी

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• आमुच्य: having donned
• आमुच्य: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having put on/fastened’

• काञ्चनीम्: golden
• काञ्चनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; qualifying मालाम्; ‘golden’

• रेये: shone
• रेये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: री (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्ष-भूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘shone/appeared splendid’

• सु-अलङ्कृतः: well-adorned
• सु-अलङ्कृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अलङ्कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सु’ + ‘अलङ्कृतः’ = ‘well-adorned’

• लिप्तः: anointed
• लिप्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘smeared/anointed’

• माहेन्द्रः: like Airāvata/Indra’s (elephant)
• माहेन्द्रः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; महेन्द्र-सम्बन्धी)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; used in simile

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• वारणः: elephant
• वारणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular (subject of रेये)

Purport

Anointed with sandalwood paste and other pure, fragrant substances, Balarāma resembled Airāvata, the great elephant of Lord Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on Krishna’s form and beauty?

This verse presents Kṛṣṇa’s divine appearance—blue garments, golden garland, and anointed splendor—encouraging devotees to remember and meditate on His rūpa as a direct support for bhakti.

Why is Krishna compared to Indra’s elephant in this shloka?

The comparison highlights royal, radiant majesty: just as Indra’s elephant appears magnificent when decorated, Kṛṣṇa appears supremely splendid when adorned—yet His beauty surpasses all worldly grandeur.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Use it as a visualization for japa or prayer: recall Kṛṣṇa’s serene, beautiful form to steady the mind, soften the heart, and cultivate devotion amid daily stress.