Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

गोपैः समानैः सहितौ क्रीडन्ताव् अमराव् इव

Transliteration

gopaiḥ samānaiḥ sahitau krīḍantāv amarāv iva

Translation

Accompanied by cowherd boys of their own age, the two of them played about—appearing like a pair of immortals moving among mortals.

Word by Word

• गोपैः: with cowherds
• गोपैः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी; instr. of accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (masc. instrumental plural)

• समानैः: similar/equal
• समानैः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; गोपैः इति विशेषणम् (masc. instrumental plural; 'equal/like')

• सहितौ: accompanied (together)
• सहितौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग) + इ (धातु) → सहित (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle; 'accompanied')

• क्रीडन्तौ: playing
• क्रीडन्तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) → क्रीडन्त् (कृदन्त-शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• अमरौ: two immortals (gods)
• अमरौ: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन (masc. nominative dual)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upama (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (indeclinable particle of comparison)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna descends to live among cowherds while remaining divine, revealing that immortality can appear in the midst of ordinary life.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Reassurance that the divine protects and uplifts society through approachable presence, strengthening faith and dharma in Vraja.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme can be recognized even in familiar, human settings when approached with loving attention.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: See the sacred in daily relationships; practice remembrance that turns companionship into service and devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Transcendence-with-immanence: the Lord remains ‘amarāvat’ while fully present within the world and within social bonds.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna and Balarama being compared to ‘two immortals’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals their divine nature even while they live and play in a fully human setting, showing the Lord’s transcendence expressed through līlā.

How does Sage Parāśara present divinity in everyday life through this verse?

By depicting the divine brothers playing with ordinary cowherd companions “as equals,” Parāśara emphasizes intimacy and accessibility without denying their supreme status.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu’s sovereignty is shown as gentle immanence—He enters history and community life, allowing loving closeness while remaining the divine reality implied by the term ‘amara’.