Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 31

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

समेत्य गावोऽधो वत्सान् वत्सवत्योऽप्यपाययन् । गिलन्त्य इव चाङ्गानि लिहन्त्य: स्वौधसं पय: ॥ ३१ ॥

sametya gāvo ’dho vatsān vatsavatyo ’py apāyayan gilantya iva cāṅgāni lihantyaḥ svaudhasaṁ payaḥ

Setibanya di bawah, lembu-lembu itu bertemu anak-anak lembu. Walaupun baru beranak, kerana kasih yang bertambah mereka membiarkan anak lembu yang lebih tua minum susu dari ambingnya; kemudian dengan gelisah mereka menjilat tubuh anak lembu seolah-olah mahu menelannya.

sametyahaving approached
sametya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-√i (सम् + इ धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive); ‘having come together/approached’
gāvaḥthe cows
gāvaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgo (गो प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन
adhaḥdown/below
adhaḥ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootadhaḥ (अधः अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; स्थानवाचक (adverb of place) ‘down/below’
vatsānthe calves
vatsān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvatsa (वत्स प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन
vatsavatyaḥ(those) having calves
vatsavatyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvatsavatī (वत्सवती प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘having calves’ (qualifying gāvaḥ)
apialso
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अपि अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’
apāyayanmade (them) drink / suckled
apāyayan:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpā (पा धातु)
Formणिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) ‘to make drink’; लङ् (Imperfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन
gilantyaḥswallowing (as if)
gilantyaḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootgil (गिल् धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘as if swallowing’
ivaas if
iva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (इव अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (च अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)
aṅgānilimbs
aṅgāni:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootaṅga (अङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन
lihantyaḥlicking
lihantyaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootlih (लिह् धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘licking’
sva-udhasamtheir own udders
sva-udhasam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (स्व प्रातिपदिक) + udhas (उधस् प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय: ‘their own udder’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (udhas); द्वितीया एकवचन
payaḥmilk
payaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpayas (पयस् प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक
K
Kṛṣṇa
V
Vraja-gopāla boys
C
calves (vatsāḥ)
M
mother cows of Vraja

FAQs

This verse shows the mother cows’ overwhelming vatsalya (parental affection): despite being full of milk, they nursed again and licked the calves as if to absorb them—revealing extraordinary love awakened by Krishna’s presence.

In the Brahmā-vimohana-līlā, Krishna expanded Himself to become the calves (and later the boys). Because the calves were Krishna, the cows’ natural affection intensified into a divine, irresistible love.

Cultivate steady, selfless care in devotion—serving Krishna with the tenderness and consistency of a parent’s love, offering daily attention (hearing, chanting, service) even when one feels “already full” or busy.