Shloka 45

Śakaṭa-bhañjana, Naming by Garga, Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna, and the Move to Vṛndāvana

Devanagari script

क्वचिद् गोभिः समं रम्यं गेयतानरताव् उभौ चेरतुः क्वचिद् अत्यर्थं शीतवृक्षतलाश्रयौ

Transliteration

kvacid gobhiḥ samaṃ ramyaṃ geyatānaratāv ubhau ceratuḥ kvacid atyarthaṃ śītavṛkṣatalāśrayau

Translation

At times the two wandered delightfully with the cattle, absorbed in song and dance; at other times, seeking deep refreshment, they rested beneath the shade at the base of cool, sheltering trees.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Desha-kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्ययम् (adverb of place/time: ‘somewhere/sometimes’)

• गोभिः: with cows
• गोभिः: Sahakari (Companion/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• समम्: together
• समम्: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (adverb: ‘together/equally’)

• रम्यम्: pleasantly
• रम्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (pleasantly / in a pleasant way)

• गेयतानरतौ: delighting in song and melody
• गेयतानरतौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गेय (प्रातिपदिक) + तान (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (गेय-तानयोः) रतौ इति सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (sense: ‘delighting in singing and melody’); Nominative dual; विशेषणम् (उभौ)

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; Nominative dual (both)

• चेरतुः: wandered
• चेरतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Desha-kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्ययम् (adverb)

• अत्यर्थम्: exceedingly
• अत्यर्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण-अव्ययम् (adverb: ‘exceedingly/very much’)

• शीतवृक्षतलाश्रयौ: taking refuge under cool tree-shades
• शीतवृक्षतलाश्रयौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (शीतस्य वृक्षतलस्य) आश्रयौ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; Nominative dual; विशेषणम् (उभौ)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To bestow sweetness of divine companionship in Vraja and protect the pastoral community through playful līlā.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Sanctification of everyday life—work, rest, music—when centered on the Lord’s presence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Krishna’s presence turns ordinary acts—walking with cows, singing, dancing, resting—into sacred līlā and a vehicle of devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Integrate devotion into daily rhythms: sing, remember, and serve in simple activities, letting rest and work become offerings.

Vishishtadvaita: Loving participation (kainkarya) in the Lord’s līlā affirms the jīva’s enduring individuality while being fulfilled in God-centered joy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Cows (Gāvaḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of song and dance in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse frames singing and dancing as part of the Lord’s līlā—divine play—showing how devotion and joy naturally arise around Krishna (Vishnu) even within ordinary pastoral life.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the scene’s spiritual meaning while narrating history?

Parāśara weaves theology into genealogy: while recounting dynastic events, he depicts Krishna’s everyday movements to show the Supreme’s immanence—ruling the cosmos yet moving among cattle and cowherds.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By presenting Krishna’s restful, human-like wanderings, the text emphasizes Vishnu’s supremacy without distance—Para Brahman who remains accessible through līlā and bhakti, not only through cosmic descriptions.