Srimad Bhagavatam 10.8.17 — Dashama Skandha, Canto 10, Chapter 8, Verse 17

Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth

Devanagari script

पुरानेन व्रजपते साधवो दस्युपीडिता: । अराजके रक्ष्यमाणा जिग्युर्दस्यून्समेधिता: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

purānena vraja-pate sādhavo dasyu-pīḍitāḥ arājake rakṣyamāṇā jigyur dasyūn samedhitāḥ

Translation

Wahai Nanda, ketua Vraja, dalam Purana tercatat: ketika pemerintahan kacau dan orang saleh ditindas oleh pencuri serta perompak, anak ini menampakkan diri untuk melindungi rakyat, memakmurkan mereka, dan menundukkan para penjahat.

Synonyms

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अनेन: by this (means)
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्रजपते: O lord of Vraja
• व्रजपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रजपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्रजस्य पतिः)

• साधवः: the good people
• साधवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• दस्युपीडिताः: oppressed by bandits
• दस्युपीडिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दस्यु + पीडित (पीड् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दस्युभिः पीडिताः)

• अराजके: when there was no king (in a kingless state)
• अराजके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + राजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative)

• रक्ष्यमाणाः: being protected
• रक्ष्यमाणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + य (यक्) + मान (शानच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्यय (present passive participle)

• जिग्युः: they conquered
• जिग्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्ष/परिपूर्ण—perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• दस्यून्: bandits
• दस्यून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• समेधिताः: having prospered/strengthened
• समेधिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + एध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle; ‘grown/prospered’)

Purport

Indra is the king of the universe. Demons, thieves and rogues always disturb Indra ( indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokam ), but when indrāris, the enemies of Indra, become prominent, Kṛṣṇa appears. Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayaṁ/ indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ mṛḍayanti yuge yuge ( Bhāg. 1.3.28 ).

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protection and leadership during anarchy (arājaka)?

This verse recalls that when there was no king, the saintly villagers protected themselves through unity and strength, and they were able to defeat bandits.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Nanda Mahārāja as 'Vrajapati' here?

Śukadeva highlights Nanda’s role as the responsible leader of Vraja, using an old precedent to underscore how the community can remain protected under vigilant guidance.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When external support fails, communities should cultivate unity, shared responsibility, and moral strength to resist harmful influences and protect the vulnerable.