Shloka 48

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

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजा: शङ्खचक्रगदाराजीवपाणय: । किरीटिन: कुण्डलिनो हारिणो वनमालिन: ॥ ४७ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्गददोरत्नकम्बुकङ्कणपाणय: । नूपुरै: कटकैर्भाता: कटिसूत्राङ्गुलीयकै: ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

catur-bhujāḥ śaṅkha-cakra- gadā-rājīva-pāṇayaḥ kirīṭinaḥ kuṇḍalino hāriṇo vana-mālinaḥ

Translation

Tous avaient quatre bras, tenant conque, disque, massue et lotus. Ils portaient couronnes, boucles d’oreilles, colliers et guirlandes de fleurs des bois. Sur leur poitrine brillait le signe de Śrīvatsa; aux bras des bracelets, au cou la gemme Kaustubha et trois lignes comme une conque; aux poignets des anneaux, aux chevilles des nūpura, à la taille une ceinture sacrée, et aux doigts des bagues : tous resplendissaient de beauté.

Synonyms

• श्रीवत्साङ्गददोरत्नकम्बुकङ्कणपाणयः: whose hands were adorned with Śrīvatsa, armlets, gems, conch-like bracelets, etc.
• श्रीवत्साङ्गददोरत्नकम्बुकङ्कणपाणयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गद (प्रातिपदिक) + दोः (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + कङ्कण (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषां पाणयः श्रीवत्स-अङ्गद-दोः-रत्न-कम्बु-कङ्कण-भूषिताः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• नूपुरैः: with anklets
• नूपुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नूपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• कटकैः: with bracelets/bangles
• कटकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• भाताः: shone/were resplendent
• भाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘shining/adorned’

• कटिसूत्राङ्गुलीयकैः: with waist-strings and finger-rings
• कटिसूत्राङ्गुलीयकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुलीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (कटिसूत्राणि च अङ्गुलीयकानि च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

Purport

All the Viṣṇu forms had four arms, with conchshell and other articles, but these characteristics are also possessed by those who have attained sārūpya-mukti in Vaikuṇṭha and who consequently have forms exactly like the form of the Lord. However, these Viṣṇu forms appearing before Lord Brahmā also possessed the mark of Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha gem, which are special characteristics possessed only by the Supreme Lord Himself. This proves that all these boys and calves were in fact directly expansions of Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead, not merely His associates of Vaikuṇṭha. Viṣṇu Himself is included within Kṛṣṇa. All the opulences of Viṣṇu are already present in Kṛṣṇa, and consequently for Kṛṣṇa to demonstrate so many Viṣṇu forms was actually not very astonishing.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• cowherd boys (gopāḥ)
• calves (vatsāḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kṛṣṇa manifesting four-armed forms?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa’s expansions appearing as four-armed Viṣṇu-like forms holding conch, disc, mace, and lotus—revealing His supreme divinity beyond the Vraja pastime.

Why is Brahmā shown becoming astonished in Canto 10 Chapter 13?

Brahmā tried to test Kṛṣṇa by stealing the calves and cowherd boys; Kṛṣṇa then expanded to replace them, and Brahmā became stunned upon seeing the Lord’s inconceivable power and opulence.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It teaches humility: even the greatest intellect can be limited, so one should approach the Divine with devotion and reverence rather than trying to control or “measure” God with ego.