Shloka 1

Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa (Brahmā-stuti) and the Restoration of Vraja’s Lunch Pastime

Devanagari script

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच नौमीड्य तेऽभ्रवपुषे तडिदम्बराय गुञ्जावतंसपरिपिच्छलसन्मुखाय । वन्यस्रजे कवलवेत्रविषाणवेणु- लक्ष्मश्रिये मृदुपदे पशुपाङ्गजाय ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-brahmovāca naumīḍya te ’bhra-vapuṣe taḍid-ambarāya guñjāvataṁsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhāya vanya-sraje kavala-vetra-viṣāṇa-veṇu- lakṣma-śriye mṛdu-pade paśupāṅgajāya

Translation

Brahmā dit : Ô Seigneur digne d’adoration, je me prosterne devant Toi. Ton corps est bleu sombre comme un nuage nouveau, Ton vêtement resplendit tel l’éclair ; les ornements de guñjā et la plume de paon rehaussent la beauté de Ton visage. Paré d’une guirlande de fleurs de la forêt, tenant une bouchée de nourriture, muni du bâton de berger, de la corne et de la flûte, ô fils du roi des pasteurs, Tu te tiens magnifiquement, aux pas tout doux.

Synonyms

• श्रीब्रह्मा: Brahmā (the revered)
• श्रीब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said’

• नौमि: I bow to / I praise
• नौमि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नु/नव् (धातु; नम्-आर्थे ‘to praise/bow’)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदी, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘I praise/I bow’

• ईड्य: O praiseworthy one
• ईड्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईड्य (प्रातिपदिक; √ईड्/ईड् ‘to praise’ से)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/ण्यत्-प्राय), सम्बोधनार्थ विशेषण; ‘praiseworthy’

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen. sg.)/चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dat. sg.)—अत्र चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) ‘to you’

• अभ्रवपुषे: to (you) of cloud-like body
• अभ्रवपुषे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘वपुस्’, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dat. sg.); ‘to (you) whose body is like a cloud’

• तडिदम्बराय: to (you) with lightning-like garment
• तडिदम्बराय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडित् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘अम्बर’, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to (you) with lightning-like garment’

• गुञ्जावतंसपरिपिच्छलसन्मुखाय: to (you) with a shining face adorned with guñjā and peacock feathers
• गुञ्जावतंसपरिपिच्छलसन्मुखाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जा (प्रा.) + अवतंस (प्रा.) + परि-पिच्छ (प्रा.) + लसत् (√लस् शतृ) + मुख (प्रा.)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to (you) whose face is shining, adorned with guñjā-earrings and peacock-feathers’

• वन्यस्रजे: to (you) with a wildflower garland
• वन्यस्रजे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रज्/स्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to (you) with a forest-garland’

• कवलवेत्रविषाणवेणुलक्ष्मश्रिये: to (you) whose splendor bears the signs of morsel, staff, horn and flute
• कवलवेत्रविषाणवेणुलक्ष्मश्रिये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवल (प्रा.) + वेत्र (प्रा.) + विषाण (प्रा.) + वेणु (प्रा.) + लक्ष्म (प्रा.) + श्री (प्रा.)
• Form: समाहार-तत्पुरुष (बहुपद); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to (you) whose beauty is marked by morsel (food), staff, horn, and flute’

• मृदुपदे: to (you) of gentle feet
• मृदुपदे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृदु (प्रा.) + पद (प्रा.)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to (you) of gentle feet/steps’

• पशुपाङ्गजाय: to the cowherd’s son
• पशुपाङ्गजाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुप (प्रा.) + अङ्गज (प्रा.)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to the son of the cowherd (Nanda)’

Purport

In the previous chapter Brahmā, the creator of the universe, tried to bewilder the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, by stealing His cowherd boyfriends and calves. But by a slight exhibition of Kṛṣṇa’s own mystic potency, Brahmā himself was completely bewildered, and now with great humility and devotion he offers his humble obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Krishna
• Nanda

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.1 say about Krishna’s appearance in Vraja?

It portrays Krishna as the worshipable Lord in the simple cowherd form—raincloud-complexioned, wearing a lightning-like yellow cloth, adorned with peacock feather and guñjā, carrying flute and herding items—showing divine majesty within pastoral sweetness.

Why did Brahmā offer prayers to Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 14?

After becoming bewildered by Krishna’s potency in the Brahma-vimohana episode, Brahmā realizes Krishna’s supreme position and responds with humility and surrender, beginning with reverent obeisances and detailed glorification.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional practice?

It teaches focused remembrance: meditate on Krishna’s personal form and qualities with reverence, replacing pride with humility and expressing devotion through sincere glorification.