Shloka 3

Devanagari script

चारयन्तं महावीर्यं गाश् च गोपवपुर्धरम् कृत्स्नस्य जगतो गोपं वृतं गोपकुमारकैः

Transliteration

cārayantaṃ mahāvīryaṃ gāś ca gopavapurdharam kṛtsnasya jagato gopaṃ vṛtaṃ gopakumārakaiḥ

Translation

They beheld the One of immeasurable valor tending the cows—clad in the form of a cowherd—He who is truly the Protector of the entire universe, surrounded on every side by the cowherd boys.

Word by Word

• चारयन्तम्: (him) causing to graze / herding
• चारयन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारयत् (कृदन्त; √चर् (धातु) + णिच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), causative (णिच्)

• महावीर्यम्: of great valor/power
• महावीर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + वीर्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गोपवपुःधरम्: wearing the form of a cowherd
• गोपवपुःधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोप-वपुस्-धर (प्रातिपदिक; गोप + वपुस् + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘गोपस्य वपुः धारयति’

• कृत्स्नस्य: of the entire
• कृत्स्नस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषण

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• गोपम्: the protector/guardian (cowherd)
• गोपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• वृतम्: surrounded
• वृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (कृदन्त; √वृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• गोपकुमारकैः: by the cowherd boys
• गोपकुमारकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप-कुमारक (प्रातिपदिक; गोप + कुमारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘गोपानां कुमारकाः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna’s acts and divine status during the pastoral līlā in Vraja.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He manifests as the cowherd protector while preparing to relieve the earth’s burden and uphold dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection and sustenance of beings under divine guardianship (goptr̥tva).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord who protects the whole cosmos freely assumes a humble pastoral form to be approachable to devotees.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate intimacy with God through simple daily remembrance and service, seeing the divine in ordinary life.

Vishishtadvaita: Parabrahman is both transcendent ‘jagat-gopā’ and immanently present in a concrete, lovable personal form.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopakumaras (cowherd boys)
• Cows

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna being called the 'protector of the entire universe' while herding cows?

The verse presents the avatāra paradox: the Supreme Guardian (jagat-gopa) adopts an ordinary cowherd role, showing that cosmic sovereignty can be present within intimate, simple līlā.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the divine nature of Krishna through pastoral imagery?

By stating that Krishna bears the cowherd form yet remains the protector of all, Parāśara frames Krishna’s village life as a deliberate concealment of supreme divinity within accessible human experience.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu/Krishna in this context?

Krishna is depicted as the Supreme Reality who sustains and guards the cosmos, while simultaneously drawing close to devotees—supporting Vaishnava theism where God is both transcendent ruler and immanent beloved.