Shloka 9

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

केचित् पुष्पैर्दलै: केचित्पल्लवैरङ्कुरै: फलै: । शिग्भिस्त्वग्भिर्द‍ृषद्भ‍िश्च बुभुजु: कृतभाजना: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

kecit puṣpair dalaiḥ kecit pallavair aṅkuraiḥ phalaiḥ śigbhis tvagbhir dṛṣadbhiś ca bubhujuḥ kṛta-bhājanāḥ

Translation

Entre los niños pastores, unos pusieron su comida sobre flores, otros sobre hojas, brotes, retoños y frutos; algunos en sus cestas, otros sobre la corteza de los árboles y otros sobre rocas, comiendo como si todo ello fueran sus platos.

Synonyms

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेष (indefinite pronoun)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• दलैः: with leaves
• दलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• केचित्: some (others)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेष (indefinite pronoun)

• पल्लवैः: with tender shoots
• पल्लवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• अङ्कुरैः: with sprouts
• अङ्कुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• शिग्भिः: with śigu-vegetables (moringa pods/leaves)
• शिग्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• त्वग्भिः: with bark/peels
• त्वग्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• दृषद्भिः: with stones/rock-salt lumps (lit. stones)
• दृषद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बुभुजुः: they ate/enjoyed
• बुभुजुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• कृतभाजनाḥ: having prepared their bowls/containers
• कृतभाजनाḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु; कृदन्त) + भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतं भाजनं येषाम्/कृतभाजनाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopāla (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna eating with the cowherd boys in the forest?

In this verse (10.13.9), Śukadeva describes the boys joyfully eating in the forest with improvised plates—flowers, leaves, shoots, fruits, horns, bark, and stones—highlighting Kṛṣṇa’s intimate, simple Vraja-līlā with His friends.

Why are the cowherd boys described as making bowls from bark, horns, and stones?

It shows the spontaneous, playful nature of Vraja life: the boys, carefree in Kṛṣṇa’s company, turn whatever is available in the forest into utensils, emphasizing simplicity and affectionate friendship (sakhya).

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 10.13.9 for modern life?

Cultivate contentment and devotion: happiness grows from loving association and gratitude, not elaborate arrangements—offer what you have with sincerity, and keep life simple and God-centered.