Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 53

Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala

Devanagari script

तान् द‍ृष्ट्वा बालकान् देवी पुत्रस्‍नेहस्‍नुतस्तनी । परिष्वज्याङ्कमारोप्य मूर्ध्‍न्यजिघ्रदभीक्ष्णश: ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā bālakān devī putra-sneha-snuta-stanī pariṣvajyāṅkam āropya mūrdhny ajighrad abhīkṣṇaśaḥ

Translation

Seeing those boys, Goddess Devakī overflowed with motherly love, and milk flowed from her breasts. She embraced them, lifted them onto her lap, and again and again smelled their heads.

Synonyms

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• bālakān: the boys/children
• bālakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• devī: the goddess/queen (Devakī)
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• putra-sneha-snuta-stanī: whose breasts flowed from motherly affection
• putra-sneha-snuta-stanī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of devī
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + snuta (स्नु/स्रु-धातु + क्त, ‘flowing’) + stanī (स्तनिन्/स्तनी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि ‘she whose breasts are flowing due to affection for her sons’

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having embraced’

• aṅkam: lap
• aṅkam: Karma (कर्म) (place onto which)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āropya: having placed (them) on
• āropya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh/rop (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), causative sense ‘having placed/raised onto’

• mūrdhni: on the head
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ajighrat: she smelled/kissed (by smelling)
• ajighrat: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; intensive/reduplicated stem (जिघ्र) ‘she smelled’

• abhīkṣṇaśaḥ: repeatedly
• abhīkṣṇaśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhīkṣṇaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘repeatedly, again and again’

Characters & Entities

• Rohiṇī
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about vatsalya (motherly) bhakti?

This verse depicts vatsalya-bhakti through Rohiṇī’s intense motherly love—embracing the boys, holding them on her lap, and repeatedly smelling their heads as affection overflows.

Who is the mother figure showing affection in Bhagavatam 10.85.53?

The verse refers to Rohiṇī-devī, who expresses deep maternal affection upon seeing the boys (notably Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma).

Practical application of motherly devotion from this shloka in modern life?

It highlights pure, selfless affection—caring for loved ones with warmth and presence—while seeing relationships as opportunities to express devotion and compassion.