Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

क्वचित् कदम्बस्रक्चित्रौ मयूरस्रग्धरौ क्वचित् विचित्रौ क्वचिद् आसातां विविधैर् गिरिधातुभिः

Transliteration

kvacit kadambasrakcitrau mayūrasragdharau kvacit vicitrau kvacid āsātāṃ vividhair giridhātubhiḥ

Translation

At times the two were beautifully adorned with garlands of kadamba blossoms; at times they wore wreaths of peacock feathers; and at other moments their forms shone in ever-new patterns, decorated with many-colored mineral pigments from the hills—revealing, through playful variety, a beauty that never repeats itself.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय); अर्थे—कदाचित्/कस्मिंश्चित् काले (indeclinable adverb: 'sometimes')

• कदम्ब-स्रक्-चित्रौ: (the two) adorned with kadamba garlands
• कदम्ब-स्रक्-चित्रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रक् (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कदम्बस्य स्रक्) + कर्मधारय-भावः (स्रक्-चित्रौ = स्रग्विशिष्टौ चित्रौ) (masc. nominative dual; 'adorned with a kadamba-garland')

• मयूर-स्रक्-धरौ: wearing peacock garlands
• मयूर-स्रक्-धरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रक् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मयूरस्य स्रक्) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (स्रग्धर = स्रजं धरति) (masc. nominative dual; 'wearing peacock-garlands')

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कदाचित् (indeclinable adverb)

• विचित्रौ: variegated/strangely adorned
• विचित्रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन (masc. nominative dual)

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कदाचित् (indeclinable adverb)

• आसाताम्: they were / they sat
• आसाताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person dual, perfect, parasmaipada)

• विविधैः: with various
• विविधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instr. plural; agreeing with गिरिधातुभिः)

• गिरि-धातुभिः: with mountain minerals/pigments
• गिरि-धातुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गिरेः धातवः) (masc. instrumental plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna descends to delight and protect the world while lightening the burden of the earth and nurturing dharma through his līlā.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Affirmation of divine play as a mode of grace, sustaining joy, harmony, and right order in Vraja.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Kadamba
• Peacock

FAQs

What is the significance of kadamba flowers and peacock feathers in the Vishnu Purana’s Krishna narratives?

They function as iconic markers of Vrindavana līlā—natural, pastoral ornaments that signal Krishna’s intimate presence within the sacred landscape and his playful, ever-renewing beauty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the changing adornments of the two brothers here?

By repeating “kvacit” (at times), Parāśara emphasizes continual variation—Krishna and Balarama appear again and again in fresh, diverse adornments, highlighting līlā as spontaneous and inexhaustible.

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

The verse presents the Supreme as approachable and delightful: Vishnu’s sovereignty is not only cosmic but also expressed through intimate līlā, where divine perfection shines through simple forest ornaments and playful transformation.