Shloka 8

Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger

Devanagari script

महार्हवस्त्राभरणकञ्चुकोष्णीषभूषिता: । गोपा: समाययू राजन् नानोपायनपाणय: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

mahārha-vastrābharaṇa- kañcukoṣṇīṣa-bhūṣitāḥ gopāḥ samāyayū rājan nānopāyana-pāṇayaḥ

Translation

ഹേ രാജൻ പരീക്ശിത്! വിലയേറിയ വസ്ത്രങ്ങളും ആഭരണങ്ങളും കഞ്ചുകവും തലക്കെട്ടും ധരിച്ചു അലങ്കരിച്ച ഗോപന്മാർ കൈകളിൽ പലവിധ സമ്മാനങ്ങളുമായി നന്ദമഹാരാജന്റെ ഭവനത്തിലേക്ക് എത്തി।

Synonyms

• महार्ह-वस्त्र-आभरण-कञ्चुक-उष्णीष-भूषिताः: adorned with costly clothes, ornaments, jackets and turbans
• महार्ह-वस्त्र-आभरण-कञ्चुक-उष्णीष-भूषिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महार्ह (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + कञ्चुक (प्रातिपदिक) + उष्णीष (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषणम् (past passive participle) ‘भूषित’ = adorned; समासः: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रादिभिः भूषिताः)

• गोपाः: cowherd men
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्

• समाययुः: came/arrived
• समाययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• नाना-उपायन-पाणयः: with various gifts in their hands
• नाना-उपायन-पाणयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + उपायन (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (उपायनं पाणौ येषाम्/उपायन-पाणयः) ‘having gifts in (their) hands’; ‘नाना’ = विविध (various) उपपद-विशेषणम्

Purport

When we consider the past condition of the agriculturalist in the village, we can see how opulent he was, simply because of agricultural produce and protection of cows. At the present, however, agriculture having been neglected and cow protection given up, the agriculturalist is suffering pitiably and is dressed in a niggardly torn cloth. This is the distinction between the India of history and the India of the present day. By the atrocious activities of ugra-karma, how we are killing the opportunity of human civilization!

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Gopas (cowherd men of Vraja)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.5.8 describe about the gopas of Vraja?

It describes the cowherd men arriving beautifully dressed and ornamented, carrying many gifts—showing their joy and devotion during Krishna’s ceremonial celebration.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja as 'rājan' in this verse?

Śukadeva is narrating the Vraja pastimes directly to King Parīkṣit; the address “O King” keeps the dialogue frame and emphasizes the royal listener receiving transcendental history.

What is the practical application of this verse for modern devotees?

It teaches that devotion is expressed through respectful celebration and sincere offerings—bringing one’s best (time, resources, and reverence) to Krishna-centered occasions.