Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 61

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

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

तत्रोद्वहत् पशुपवंशशिशुत्वनाट्यं ब्रह्माद्वयं परमनन्तमगाधबोधम् । वत्सान् सखीनिव पुरा परितो विचिन्व- देकं सपाणिकवलं परमेष्ठ्यचष्ट ॥ ६१ ॥

tatrodvahat paśupa-vaṁśa-śiśutva-nāṭyaṁ brahmādvayaṁ param anantam agādha-bodham vatsān sakhīn iva purā parito vicinvad ekaṁ sa-pāṇi-kavalaṁ parameṣṭhy acaṣṭa

そこでブラフマーは、第二なき唯一にして、完全な知と無限を具える絶対真理が、牧童の家に生まれた幼子のリーラーを演じ、以前と同じく独り立ち、手に一口の食を持って、子牛と牧童の友らを四方に探しているのを見た。

तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (there)
उद्वहत्carrying/assuming
उद्वहत्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootउद् + वह् (धातु)
Formवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)
पशुपवंशशिशुत्वनाट्यम्the play/role of being a cowherd child of the cowherd clan
पशुपवंशशिशुत्वनाट्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपशुप (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + शिशुत्व (प्रातिपदिक) + नाट्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)
ब्रह्माद्वयम्the non-dual Brahman
ब्रह्माद्वयम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)
परम्supreme
परम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.), विशेषण
अनन्तम्endless/infinite
अनन्तम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.), विशेषण
अगाधबोधम्of unfathomable knowledge
अगाधबोधम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअगाध (प्रातिपदिक) + बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.), विशेषण
वत्सान्calves
वत्सान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masc. acc. pl.)
सखीन्friends (cowherd boys)
सखीन्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसखि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masc. acc. pl.)
इवas if
इव:
Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमावाचक (like/as if)
पुराformerly
पुरा:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/earlier)
परितःall around
परितः:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरितः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; सर्वतोभावे (all around)
विचिन्वत्searching
विचिन्वत्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चि (धातु)
Formवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)
एकम्one
एकम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.), विशेषण
सपाणिकवलम्with a morsel in his hand
सपाणिकवलम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootस (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + कवला (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुव्रीहि-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.), विशेषण; अर्थः—'यस्मिन् पाणौ कवलः अस्ति' (having a morsel in hand)
परमेष्ठीBrahmā (the supreme lord of beings)
परमेष्ठी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपरमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.); ब्रह्मा
अचष्टhe saw/beheld
अचष्ट:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootचक्ष् (धातु)
Formलिट्/लङ्-प्रयोगे रूपम्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.); अर्थे—'अपश्यत्/अवदत्' (he beheld)

The word agādha-bodham, meaning “full of unlimited knowledge,” is significant in this verse. The Lord’s knowledge is unlimited, and therefore one cannot touch where it ends, just as one cannot measure the ocean. What is the extent of our intelligence in comparison to the vast expanse of water in the ocean? On my passage to America, how insignificant the ship was, like a matchbox in the midst of the ocean. Kṛṣṇa’s intelligence resembles the ocean, for one cannot imagine how vast it is. The best course, therefore, is to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Don’t try to measure Kṛṣṇa.

Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
B
Brahmā (Parameṣṭhī)

FAQs

This verse states that Kṛṣṇa—while acting as a cowherd child—remains the Supreme nondual Brahman, infinite and possessing unfathomable knowledge, showing that His humanlike pastimes never diminish His divinity.

In the Brahmā-vimohana episode, Brahmā observes Kṛṣṇa at the spot of the midday meal while Kṛṣṇa appears to be searching for the missing calves and boys—setting the stage for Brahmā’s realization of Kṛṣṇa’s supreme, inconceivable power.

It teaches devotees to see the Divine’s closeness and sweetness (mādhurya) without forgetting His supremacy—encouraging loving devotion, humility, and trust that God can be present in ordinary daily life.