Shloka 20

Hari’s Boon to Muchukunda, Security of the Yādus, and Balarāma’s Consolation in Vraja

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

संदेशैः साममधुरैः प्रेमगर्भैर् अगर्वितैः रामेणाश्वासिता गोप्यः कृष्णस्यातिमनोहरैः

Transliteration

saṃdeśaiḥ sāmamadhuraiḥ premagarbhair agarvitaiḥ rāmeṇāśvāsitā gopyaḥ kṛṣṇasyātimanoharaiḥ

Translation

With messages gentle and sweet—wombed with love and free of pride—Rāma consoled the gopīs, conveying Kṛṣṇa’s exceedingly enchanting words.

Word by Word

• संदेशैः: by messages
• संदेशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• साम: soothing, conciliatory
• साम: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासाङ्ग) प्रातिपदिक; 'conciliation/soothing'

• मधुरैः: sweet
• मधुरैः: Karana (Qualifier of instrument/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'saṃdeśaiḥ')

• साममधुरैः: soothing and sweet
• साममधुरैः: Karana (Qualifier of 'saṃdeśaiḥ'/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साम (प्रातिपदिक) + मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'सामवत् मधुरैः' (sweet with soothing tone)

• प्रेम: love
• प्रेम: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन्/प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासाङ्ग) प्रातिपदिक

• गर्भैः: containing, filled with
• गर्भैः: Karana (Qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'filled with/containing'

• प्रेमगर्भैः: full of love
• प्रेमगर्भैः: Karana (Qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'प्रेम्णः गर्भैः' (pregnant with love)

• अगर्वितैः: humble, without pride
• अगर्वितैः: Karana (Qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + गर्वित (गर्व+क्त/त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासभावः: 'without pride'

• रामेण: by Rama (Balarama)
• रामेण: Karana (Agent/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्वासिता: comforted, reassured
• आश्वासिता: Kriya (Passive predicate/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + श्वस् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle of causative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with 'gopyaḥ')

• गोप्यः: the gopis
• गोप्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अति: very, exceedingly
• अति: Sambandha (Intensifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/अतिशयार्थक (intensifier)

• मनोहरैः: charming, delightful
• मनोहरैः: Karana (Qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied 'saṃdeśaiḥ')

• अतिमनोहरैः: very charming
• अतिमनोहरैः: Karana (Qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'अतिशयेन मनोहरैः'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To nurture devotees through sweet speech and assurance, sustaining their love until reunion and the completion of his earthly mission.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Emotional steadiness and trust (viśvāsa) in the Lord’s grace during separation.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gentle, pride-free speech carrying the Lord’s intent becomes a form of bhakti that heals the devotee’s heart.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Offer spiritual counsel without ego; speak softly, truthfully, and with empathy, making your words a vehicle for divine reassurance.

Vishishtadvaita: Grace is mediated through devotees: the Lord’s compassion reaches jīvas via loving messengers, consistent with a personal, relational Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Balarama (Rama)
• Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s messages to the Gopis in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that Krishna’s communication is deliberately gentle, love-filled, and humble—showing divine compassion that sustains the Gopis’ devotion even in separation.

How does Sage Parashara present the consoling role of Balarama here?

Parashara depicts Balarama as the direct comforter who delivers Krishna’s captivating words, functioning as a mediator who steadies the community’s hearts while Krishna is away.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

Krishna’s supremacy is not shown through force but through grace—his enchanting, pride-free love becomes the sustaining power (dharma of devotion) that governs and consoles his devotees.