Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 31

The Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Hastināpura

Devanagari script

एवंविधा गदन्तीनां स गिर: पुरयोषिताम् । निरीक्षणेनाभिनन्दन् सस्मितेन ययौ हरि: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁvidhā gadantīnāṁ sa giraḥ pura-yoṣitām nirīkṣaṇenābhinandan sasmitena yayau hariḥ

Translation

നഗരത്തിലെ സ്ത്രീകൾ ഇങ്ങനെ വന്ദിച്ച് സംസാരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഭഗവാൻ ഹരി മന്ദസ്മിതത്തോടെ അവരുടെ ശുഭാഭിവാദ്യം സ്വീകരിച്ചു; കൃപാദൃഷ്ടിയാൽ അവരെ നോക്കി നഗരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പുറപ്പെട്ടു.

Synonyms

• evaṁ-vidhāḥ: such (words)
• evaṁ-vidhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of giraḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṁ (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana; avyayībhāva: ‘evaṁ’ + ‘vidha’ = ‘of such a kind’

• gadantīnām: of (the women) speaking
• gadantīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gad (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle) ‘gadantī’ (f.); Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• giraḥ: words, utterances
• giraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana

• pura-yoṣitām: of the city-women
• pura-yoṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक) + yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (ṣaṣṭhī): ‘purasya yoṣitaḥ’

• nirīkṣaṇena: by (his) glance
• nirīkṣaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana

• abhinandan: approving, greeting
• abhinandan: Karta (कर्ता) (participial qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√nand (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle) ‘abhinandan’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agreeing with saḥ/hariḥ

• sa-smitena: with a smile
• sa-smitena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.)/Puṃliṅga? here Instr. sg. as adjective to nirīkṣaṇena implied; Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘smitena saha’ = ‘with a smile’

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• hariḥ: Hari (Krishna)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Lord Krishna)
• pura-yoṣitaḥ (the women of the city)

FAQs

How does Krishna reciprocate with the love of His devotees in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, Krishna responds to the city women’s affectionate words not with speech, but by a gracious glance and a gentle smile—showing personal reciprocation and acceptance of their devotion.

Why were the women of the city speaking about Krishna as He departed?

In the narrative of Canto 1, Chapter 10, Krishna is leaving after protecting and consoling the Pandavas; the residents, especially the women, express their devotion and longing as they behold Him departing.

What is the practical lesson of Krishna acknowledging devotees with a smile and glance?

Devotional service is met with divine response in subtle ways; a practitioner learns to value inner reassurance and grace, remaining steady in bhakti even when God’s reply is not verbal or dramatic.