Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 25

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण कृष्णसख वृष्ण्यृषभावनिध्रुग् राजन्यवंशदहनानपवर्गवीर्य । गोविन्द गोपवनिताव्रजभृत्यगीत- तीर्थश्रव: श्रवणमङ्गल पाहि भृत्यान् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa-sakha vṛṣṇy-ṛṣabhāvani-dhrug- rājanya-vaṁśa-dahanānapavarga-vīrya govinda gopa-vanitā-vraja-bhṛtya-gīta tīrtha-śravaḥ śravaṇa-maṅgala pāhi bhṛtyān

Translation

ହେ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣ! ହେ ଅର୍ଜୁନସଖ! ବୃଷ୍ଣିବଂଶଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ପୃଥିବୀରେ ଉପଦ୍ରବ କରୁଥିବା ରାଜଦଳମାନଙ୍କ ଦାହକ! ଯାହାଙ୍କ ବୀର୍ୟ କେବେ କ୍ଷୟ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ! ହେ ଗୋବିନ୍ଦ! ବ୍ରଜର ଗୋପୀ, ଗୋପ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ସେବକମାନେ ଯାହାଙ୍କ ପବିତ୍ର କୀର୍ତ୍ତି ଗାନ କରନ୍ତି—ସେହି କୀର୍ତ୍ତି ଶୁଣିବାମାତ୍ରେ ମଙ୍ଗଳଦାୟକ। ପ୍ରଭୁ, ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତୁ।

Synonyms

• śrī-kṛṣṇa: O Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• śrī-kṛṣṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛṣṇa-sakha: O friend of Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇa-sakha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + sakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); ‘friend of Kṛṣṇa’ (addressing as Arjuna’s friend/companion of devotees; epithet)

• vṛṣṇi-ṛṣabha-avani-dhruk: O best of the Vṛṣṇis, remover of earth’s burden
• vṛṣṇi-ṛṣabha-avani-dhruk: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṇi + ṛṣabha + avani + dhruk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); ‘oppressor (dhruk) of the earth’s burden (avani) [i.e., enemies], O bull among Vṛṣṇis’ (multi-member determinative)

• rājanya-vaṁśa-dahana-anapavarga-vīrya: O whose unfailing valor burns royal lineages
• rājanya-vaṁśa-dahana-anapavarga-vīrya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājanya + vaṁśa + dahana + anapavarga + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); ‘whose prowess is unfailing (anapavarga) in burning the royal dynasties’

• govinda: O Govinda
• govinda: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• gopa-vanitā-vraja-bhṛtya-gīta: sung by the gopīs and Vraja’s servants
• gopa-vanitā-vraja-bhṛtya-gīta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gopa + vanitā + vraja + bhṛtya + gīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies next word tīrtha-śravaḥ: ‘sung by the cowherd women and servants of Vraja’

• tīrtha-śravaḥ: O whose fame is sacred
• tīrtha-śravaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha + śravas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); ‘whose fame is a holy place/pilgrimage’

• śravaṇa-maṅgala: O auspicious to hear
• śravaṇa-maṅgala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa + maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); ‘auspicious to hear’

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• bhṛtyān: servants
• bhṛtyān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Vṛṣṇis
• Gopīs (gopa-vanitā)
• Vraja-bhṛtyas (servants of Vraja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of hearing Krishna’s pastimes and names?

This verse declares that hearing about Kṛṣṇa is itself tīrtha—spiritually purifying like a holy place—and inherently auspicious, leading the listener toward protection, devotion, and ultimately liberation.

Why is Krishna addressed as ‘Kṛṣṇa-sakha’ (friend of Arjuna) in the Bhagavatam?

The title highlights Kṛṣṇa’s intimate, personal relationship with His devotee Arjuna, showing that the Supreme Lord becomes a loving companion and protector of those who take shelter of Him.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Make daily śravaṇam a practice—regularly hear or read Kṛṣṇa-kathā (Bhagavatam, kīrtana, lectures). The verse teaches that such hearing is intrinsically purifying and strengthens devotional shelter in stressful, worldly conditions.