Shloka 20

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

कदाचिदथ गोविन्दो रामश्चाद्भ‍ुतविक्रम: । विजह्रतुर्वने रात्र्यां मध्यगौ व्रजयोषिताम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

kadācid atha govindo rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ vijahratur vane rātryāṁ madhya-gau vraja-yoṣitām

Translation

ഒരു വേള രാത്രി വനത്തിൽ അത്ഭുതപരാക്രമികളായ ശ്രീ ഗോവിന്ദനും ബലരാമനും വ്രജ യുവതികളുടെ നടുവിൽ ക്രീഡിച്ചു।

Synonyms

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• कदाचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda (Krishna)
• गोविन्दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रामः: Rama (Balarama)
• रामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अद्भुतविक्रमः: of wondrous prowess
• अद्भुतविक्रमः: विशेषण (Qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• विजह्रतुः: they sported/played
• विजह्रतुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद

• वने: in the forest
• वने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रात्र्याम्: at night
• रात्र्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मध्यगौ: having gone to the middle (of them), in their midst
• मध्यगौ: विशेषण (Qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of dual subject)

• व्रजयोषिताम्: of the women of Vraja (gopīs)
• व्रजयोषिताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

Purport

This verse introduces a new pastime. According to the ācāryas, the occasion mentioned here is the Holikā-pūrṇimā, a day also known as Gaura-pūrṇimā.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Rāma (Śrī Balarāma)
• Vraja-yoṣitām (the gopīs of Vraja)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s night pastimes in the forest?

This verse states that Govinda (Kṛṣṇa) and Rāma (Balarāma) enjoyed playful pastimes at night in the forest, moving among the Vraja women (gopīs), highlighting the intimate, devotion-filled Vraja līlā.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 10.34.20 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this verse to King Parīkṣit as part of the Tenth Canto’s Vṛndāvana pastimes.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

By remembering that Kṛṣṇa is approached through loving devotion (bhakti) rather than mere formality—cultivating sincere remembrance, purity of intention, and heartfelt service, as exemplified by Vraja devotion.