Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

नृत्यतो गायत: क्‍वापि वल्गतो युध्यतो मिथ: । गृहीतहस्तौ गोपालान् हसन्तौ प्रशशंसतु: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

nṛtyato gāyataḥ kvāpi valgato yudhyato mithaḥ gṛhīta-hastau gopālān hasantau praśaśaṁsatuḥ

Translation

କେବେ କେବେ ଗୋପବାଳମାନେ ନାଚୁଥିଲେ, ଗାଉଥିଲେ, ଦୌଡ଼ୁଥିଲେ ଓ ପରସ୍ପରେ ଖେଳାଖେଳି ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କରୁଥିଲେ; ସେତେବେଳେ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣ ଓ ବଳରାମ ହାତ ଧରି ଦାଁଡ଼ି ତାଙ୍କ କ୍ରୀଡାକୁ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରି ହସୁଥିଲେ।

Synonyms

• नृत्यतः: while (they) were dancing
• नृत्यतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नृत् (धातु) (कृदन्त: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन/द्विवचन-सम्भाव्य; यहाँ ‘नृत्यतः’ = ‘नृत्यतः (तयोः)’—षष्ठी द्विवचनार्थे (genitive dual sense)

• गायतः: while (they) were singing
• गायतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गै (धातु) (कृदन्त: शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचनार्थे (genitive dual sense): ‘of the two singing’

• क्वापि: somewhere / at times
• क्वापि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; locative circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययसमुच्चय (indeclinable combination): स्थानवाचक-अव्यय ‘somewhere/at some time’

• वल्गतः: while (they) were leaping
• वल्गतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वल्ग् (धातु) (कृदन्त: शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचनार्थे: ‘of the two leaping’

• युध्यतः: while (they) were fighting
• युध्यतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युध् (धातु) (कृदन्त: शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचनार्थे: ‘of the two fighting’

• मिथः: mutually
• मिथः: सम्प्रदान/अधिकरण (contextual; reciprocal circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), परस्परार्थक-अव्यय (reciprocal adverb): ‘mutually/with each other’

• गृहीत-हस्तौ: holding hands
• गृहीत-हस्तौ: कर्ता (Karta; subject—dual)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् धातु) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (Tatpuruṣa) ‘गृहीतौ हस्तौ यस्य/ययोः’ (hands held); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण

• गोपालान्: the cowherd boys
• गोपालान्: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• हसन्तौ: laughing
• हसन्तौ: कर्ता (Karta; subject—dual)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हस् (धातु) (कृदन्त: शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण

• प्रशशंसतुः: they two praised
• प्रशशंसतुः: क्रिया (Kriyā; verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शंस् (धातु) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; ‘they two praised’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Gopālas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s Vrindavan childhood games?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma joyfully dancing, singing, leaping, and mock-wrestling with their friends—showing the intimacy and sweetness of Vraja-līlā.

Why do Krishna and Balarama praise the cowherd boys in Canto 10?

Hand in hand and laughing, they commend the gopālas to deepen friendly affection (sakhya-rasa) and to relish pure companionship in Vṛndāvana.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It highlights that bhakti is not only solemn—devotion also includes joyful, sincere companionship with devotees, encouraging wholesome community, gratitude, and affectionate encouragement.