Shloka 11

Utthāna Ceremony, Śakaṭa-bhañga, Tṛṇāvarta-vadha, and the Vision of the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth

Devanagari script

रुदन्तं सुतमादाय यशोदा ग्रहशङ्किता । कृतस्वस्त्ययनं विप्रै: सूक्तै: स्तनमपाययत् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

rudantaṁ sutam ādāya yaśodā graha-śaṅkitā kṛta-svastyayanaṁ vipraiḥ sūktaiḥ stanam apāyayat

Translation

Karena khawatir ada pengaruh planet jahat, Yaśodā menggendong putranya yang menangis dan menyusui-Nya. Lalu ia memanggil brāhmaṇa yang berpengalaman untuk melantunkan himne Veda dan melakukan upacara svastyayana yang membawa keberkahan dan perlindungan.

Synonyms

• rudantam: crying
• rudantam: Karma (कर्म; of ādāya)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudant (प्रातिपदिक; √rud (धातु) शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त—‘crying’

• sutam: the son
• sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ādāya: having taken (up)
• ādāya: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• yaśodā: Yaśodā
• yaśodā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśodā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• graha-śaṅkitā: fearing an evil influence (graha)
• graha-śaṅkitā: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: graha + śaṅkita (प्रातिपदिक; शङ्कित = √śaṅk (धातु) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण—‘suspecting a ग्रह (evil influence/seizure)’

• kṛta-svastyayanam: the protective rite performed
• kṛta-svastyayanam: Karma (कर्म; object related to apāyayat contextually)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ (धातु) क्त) + svastyayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘having had the svastyayana (protective rite) done’

• vipraiḥ: by the brāhmaṇas
• vipraiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sūktaiḥ: with hymns
• sūktaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• stanam: breast (milk)
• stanam: Karma (कर्म; object of apāyayat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• apāyayat: made (him) drink / nursed
• apāyayat: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√pā (धातु; causative)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada); णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) ‘caused to drink’

Purport

Whenever there is some danger or some inauspicious occurrence, it is the custom of Vedic civilization to have qualified brāhmaṇas immediately chant Vedic hymns to counteract it. Mother Yaśodā did this properly and allowed the baby to suck her breast.

Characters & Entities

• Yaśodā
• Kṛṣṇa
• brāhmaṇas (vipras)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about graha (planetary influence) and protection rituals in Krishna’s childhood?

This verse shows Yaśodā fearing a harmful graha influence and having brāhmaṇas perform svastyayana (protective auspicious rites) with Vedic mantras, after which she nurses Kṛṣṇa—highlighting traditional protective practices within Vraja-līlā.

Why did Mother Yaśodā call brāhmaṇas to chant mantras for baby Krishna?

Seeing Him cry and suspecting a malefic influence, Yaśodā sought the brāhmaṇas’ auspicious recitations and rites to ensure the child’s well-being, expressing her intense maternal affection and concern.

Practical application of this verse in modern life—what can devotees learn?

Respond to distress with loving care and faith: combine sincere devotion and responsible action (seeking blessings, prayer, and support from the spiritually learned) while nurturing those in your care with steadiness and affection.