Shloka 29

Devanagari script

स एव गोधनं लक्ष्म्या निकेतं सितगोवृषम् । चारयन्ननुगान् गोपान् रणद्वेणुररीरमत् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

sa eva go-dhanaṁ lakṣmyā niketaṁ sita-go-vṛṣam cārayann anugān gopān raṇad-veṇur arīramat

Translation

He, the abode of Lakṣmī and the treasury of all fortune, herded the splendid cattle and, with resonant flute-song, enlivened His devoted cowherd companions.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• गो-धनम्: the wealth of cows (the herd)
• गो-धनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-धन (प्रातिपदिक; components: गो + धन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“गवां धनम्”

• लक्ष्म्या: with prosperity/splendor
• लक्ष्म्या: करण/सहभाव (instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निकेतम्: the abode
• निकेतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गोधनम्’ इति विशेषणवत्—abode/home

• सित-गो-वृषम्: having white cows and bulls
• सित-गो-वृषम्: विशेषण (modifier of गोधनम्/निकेतम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित-गो-वृष (प्रातिपदिक; components: सित + गो + वृष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला—“सिताः गावः, वृषः (श्रेष्ठः) यस्य/यत्र” (contextual epithet of the herd/abode)

• चारयन्: grazing (tending)
• चारयन्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनुगान्: following (attendant)
• अनुगान्: विशेषण (modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘गोपान्’ इति विशेषणम्

• गोपान्: cowherds
• गोपान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रणत्-वेणुः: the sounding flute
• रणत्-वेणुः: कर्ता (instrumental subject of causation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रणत्-वेणु (प्रातिपदिक; components: रणत् (शतृ from रन्/रण्) + वेणु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“रणन् वेणुः” (sounding flute)

• अरीरमत्: delighted, gave joy
• अरीरमत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग) + णिच्? (causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘अरीरमत्’ = caused to delight/pleased (intensive/causative nuance)

Purport

As He grew to six and seven years old, the Lord was given charge of looking after the cows and bulls in the grazing grounds. He was the son of a well-to-do landholder who owned hundreds and thousands of cows, and according to Vedic economics, one is considered to be a rich man by the strength of his store of grains and cows. With only these two things, cows and grain, humanity can solve its eating problem. Human society needs only sufficient grain and sufficient cows to solve its economic problems. All other things but these two are artificial necessities created by man to kill his valuable life at the human level and waste his time in things which are not needed. Lord Kṛṣṇa, as the teacher of human society, personally showed by His acts that the mercantile community, or the vaiśyas, should herd cows and bulls and thus give protection to the valuable animals. According to smṛti regulation, the cow is the mother and the bull the father of the human being. The cow is the mother because just as one sucks the breast of one’s mother, human society takes cow’s milk. Similarly, the bull is the father of human society because the father earns for the children just as the bull tills the ground to produce food grains. Human society will kill its spirit of life by killing the father and the mother. It is mentioned herein that the beautiful cows and bulls were of various checkered colors — red, black, green, yellow, ash, etc. And because of their colors and healthy smiling features, the atmosphere was enlivening.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopa boys

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna playing the flute?

This verse describes Krishna delighting His cowherd companions while herding cows by playing His resonant flute, highlighting His sweet Vraja-līlā that awakens devotion.

Why is Krishna called the abode of Lakshmi (lakṣmyā niketam) in this verse?

Because all auspiciousness and fortune ultimately rest in Krishna; even while appearing as a simple cowherd, He is the supreme source and shelter of Lakshmi.

How can a devotee apply this shloka in modern life?

Remember Krishna’s simple, joyful service-filled pastimes and cultivate devotion through hearing, chanting, and bringing sacred remembrance into daily work and relationships.