Shloka 4

Kṛṣṇa Swallows the Forest Fire (Dāvāgni-līlā) and Restores the Herd

Devanagari script

तृणैस्तत्खुरदच्छिन्नैर्गोष्पदैरङ्कितैर्गवाम् । मार्गमन्वगमन् सर्वे नष्टाजीव्या विचेतस: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tṛṇais tat-khura-dac-chinnair goṣ-padair aṅkitair gavām mārgam anvagaman sarve naṣṭājīvyā vicetasaḥ

Translation

そこで彼らは、牛の蹄跡や、蹄と歯で折られた草を手がかりに道筋をたどった。生計の源を失ったと思い、牧童たちは皆ひどく不安に沈んだ。

Synonyms

• तृणैः: with grasses
• तृणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) बहुवचनम्

• तत्-खुर-दत्-छिन्नैः: cut by their hooves and teeth
• तत्-खुर-दत्-छिन्नैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + खुर (प्रातिपदिक) + दत्/दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘cut (chinna) by the hoof and teeth of those (cows)’; तृणैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गोः-पदैः: by cow-footprints
• गोः-पदैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘footprints of cows’)

• अङ्कितैः: marked
• अङ्कितैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्कित (कृदन्त; √अङ्क्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) बहुवचनम्; ‘marked’—गोःपदैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गवाम्: of the cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचनम्

• मार्गम्: the track/path
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• अन्वगमन्: followed
• अन्वगमन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्

• नष्ट-आजीव्याः: having lost their livelihood
• नष्ट-आजीव्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त; √नश्) + आजीव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘whose livelihood (ājīvya) is lost (naṣṭa)’; सर्वे इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विचेतसः: bewildered
• विचेतसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; ‘distracted, bewildered’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopa boys (cowherd boys)
• Cows

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopas searching for the lost calves and cows?

It describes the cowherd boys tracing the cows’ route by the bitten grass and hoofprints, while feeling deeply distressed and bewildered in separation.

Why were the cowherd boys so upset in this verse?

Because the calves and boys had been taken (by Brahmā’s illusion in the chapter’s narrative), the gopas felt as if their very life had been taken away, revealing their intense attachment and love.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches earnestness: a devotee should actively seek the Lord’s presence and guidance, following even small signs of His path with heartfelt longing rather than complacency.