Shloka 20

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

श्रीदामा नाम गोपालो रामकेशवयो: सखा । सुबलस्तोककृष्णाद्या गोपा: प्रेम्णेदमब्रुवन् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śrīdāmā nāma gopālo rāma-keśavayoḥ sakhā subala-stokakṛṣṇādyā gopāḥ premṇedam abruvan

Translation

അപ്പോൾ രാമകേശവന്മാരുടെ സഖാവായ ശ്രീദാമാ എന്ന ഗോപാലനും, സുബലൻ, സ്റ്റോകകൃഷ്ണൻ മുതലായ ഗോപബാലന്മാരും സ്നേഹത്തോടെ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു।

Synonyms

• śrīdāmā: Śrīdāmā
• śrīdāmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīdāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper noun)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक/उपपद (particle: ‘by name’)

• gopālaḥ: a cowherd boy
• gopālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāma-keśavayoḥ: of Rāma and Keśava
• rāma-keśavayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (रामा च केशवश्च)

• sakhā: (their) friend
• sakhā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सखि’ शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन रूपम्

• subala-stokakṛṣṇa-ādyāḥ: Subala, Stokakṛṣṇa and others
• subala-stokakṛṣṇa-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: subala (प्रातिपदिक) + stokakṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—आदि-तत्पुरुषः (सुबल-स्तोककृष्ण-आदयः = beginning with Subala and Stokakṛṣṇa)

• gopāḥ: the cowherd boys
• gopāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• premṇā: with affection
• premṇā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे करण (instrumental of feeling)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• abruvan: they said
• abruvan: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी

Purport

The word premṇā, “with love,” indicates that the request the cowherd boys are about to place before Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma is motivated by love, not personal desire. The cowherd boys were eager for Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to exhibit Their pastimes of killing demons and to enjoy the delicious fruits of the Tāla forest, and therefore they made the following request.

Characters & Entities

• Śrīdāmā
• Balarāma (Rāma)
• Kṛṣṇa (Keśava)
• Subala
• Stoka-Kṛṣṇa
• Gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

Who is Śrīdāmā in Srimad Bhagavatam and what is his relationship with Kṛṣṇa?

Śrīdāmā is a prominent cowherd boy of Vraja described here as a dear friend of both Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, exemplifying intimate sakhya-bhakti (devotion in friendship).

Why do the gopas speak to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma “with love” in this verse?

The verse highlights the Vraja boys’ spontaneous affection—rather than formal reverence—showing the sweetness of Vṛndāvana where devotees relate to the Lord as their closest companion.

How can sakhya-bhakti (friendship with God) be practiced in modern life?

By cultivating a personal, trusting relationship with Kṛṣṇa—remembering Him, speaking to Him simply in prayer, and serving with affection—while keeping one’s life aligned with dharma and devotion.