Shloka 12

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

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

भारतैवं वत्सपेषु भुञ्जानेष्वच्युतात्मसु । वत्सास्त्वन्तर्वने दूरं विविशुस्तृणलोभिता: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

bhārataivaṁ vatsa-peṣu bhuñjāneṣv acyutātmasu vatsās tv antar-vane dūraṁ viviśus tṛṇa-lobhitāḥ

Translation

おおマハーラージャ・パリークシトよ。心の奥底でただアチュタ（クリシュナ）だけを知る牧童たちが森で食事している間、子牛たちは青い草に誘われ、遠く深い森へと入り込んでいった。

Synonyms

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारे (adverb: thus)

• वत्सपेषु: among the cowherd boys
• वत्सपेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• भुञ्जानेषु: while (they were) eating
• भुञ्जानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle), आत्मनेपद; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• अच्युतात्मसु: whose minds were fixed on Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतात्मसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: अच्युतः आत्मा येषाम् (or अच्युत-आत्मन् as qualifier); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vatsa-peṣu)

• वत्साः: the calves
• वत्साः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: however/indeed)

• अन्तर्वने: inside the forest
• अन्तर्वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: अन्तर् वने; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दूरम्: far away
• दूरम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषणवत्; द्वितीया-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययार्थ (adverbial accusative)

• विविशुः: they entered/went
• विविशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: वि

• तृणलोभिताः: lured by grass
• तृणलोभिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + लोभित (लुभ् धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: तृणेन लोभिताः (tempted by grass); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vatsāḥ)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta)
• Vraja cowherd boys
• Calves

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the calves wandering into the forest in Canto 10 Chapter 13?

It says that while the cowherd boys were eating with hearts fixed on Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa), the calves—tempted by grass—strayed far into the inner forest, setting the stage for the next events of the Brahmā-mohana līlā.

Why is Kṛṣṇa called Acyuta in this verse?

Acyuta means “the infallible one.” The verse highlights that the boys’ consciousness was naturally anchored in Kṛṣṇa, the unfailing Lord, even during ordinary activities like taking lunch.

What practical lesson can devotees take from the calves being drawn by grass?

Sense-attraction can pull the mind away “far into the forest,” but steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) keeps one grounded; spiritual focus is cultivated by repeatedly bringing attention back to the Lord amid daily routines.