Shloka 11

Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā

Devanagari script

गावो वृषा वत्सतर्य: क्रन्दमाना: सुदु:खिता: । कृष्णे न्यस्तेक्षणा भीता रुदन्त्य इव तस्थिरे ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

gāvo vṛṣā vatsataryaḥ krandamānāḥ su-duḥkhitāḥ kṛṣṇe nyastekṣaṇā bhītā rudantya iva tasthire

Translation

Les vaches, les taureaux et les génisses, accablés de peine, poussèrent des cris plaintifs en appelant Kṛṣṇa. Terrifiés, ils gardèrent les yeux fixés sur Lui et demeurèrent immobiles, comme prêts à pleurer, mais trop bouleversés pour verser des larmes.

Synonyms

• gāvaḥ: the cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• vṛṣāḥ: the bulls
• vṛṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• vatsataryaḥ: the calves (young ones)
• vatsataryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsatarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• krandamānāḥ: crying out
• krandamānāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of subjects)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √krand क्रन्द् (कृदन्त; शानच्/Present middle participle)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्) agreeing with the herd (mixed gender plural)

• su-duḥkhitāḥ: deeply afflicted
• su-duḥkhitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग-like intensifier) + duḥkhita (कृदन्त; √khaṇḍ?/from duḥkha; adjectival)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'very distressed'

• kṛṣṇe: on Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/With regard to, fixed upon)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nyasta-īkṣaṇāḥ: with their eyes fixed (on him)
• nyasta-īkṣaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyasta (कृदन्त; नि + √as/√nyas न्यस्, PPP 'placed') + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः ('having placed their gaze')

• bhītāḥ: afraid
• bhītāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (कृदन्त; √bhī भी, PPP)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

• rudantyaḥ: weeping
• rudantyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rud रुद् (कृदन्त; शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) agreeing mainly with gāvaḥ/vatsataryaḥ

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; उपमा-निपात (particle of comparison)

• tasthire: stood still / remained
• tasthire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā स्था (लिट्/Perfect)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Vraja residents’ feelings when Krishna is in danger?

This verse shows their intense grief and fear: cows, bulls, calves, and cowherd boys cry out and stand transfixed, staring at Kṛṣṇa as their only shelter.

Why were the cows and cowherd boys crying in Canto 10 Chapter 16?

In the Kālīya episode, they see Kṛṣṇa in a perilous situation and become overwhelmed, fixing their gaze on Him and lamenting in helpless devotion.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

In crisis, focus the mind on the Lord rather than panic—turn fear into remembrance, prayer, and dependence on divine protection.