Shloka 48
Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water
अथ गावश्च गोपाश्च निदाघातपपीडिता: । दुष्टं जलं पपुस्तस्यास्तृष्णार्ता विषदूषितम् ॥ ४८ ॥
atha gāvaś ca gopāś ca nidāghātapa-pīḍitāḥ duṣṭaṁ jalaṁ papus tasyās tṛṣṇārtā viṣa-dūṣitam
En ce temps-là, les vaches et les jeunes gardiens de troupeaux souffraient cruellement sous le soleil brûlant de l’été. Tourmentés par la soif, ils burent l’eau de la Yamunā, mais elle était souillée par du poison.
FAQs
This verse states that the cows and cowherd boys, overwhelmed by summer heat and thirst, drank water that was foul and contaminated by poison—setting the scene for Krishna’s protective intervention.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this incident to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of Krishna’s Vṛndāvana līlā.
Human weakness and urgency can lead to harmful choices; the Bhagavatam teaches careful discernment and, above all, reliance on the Lord’s protection when dangers arise.