Shloka 46

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

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

तावत् सर्वे वत्सपाला: पश्यतोऽजस्य तत्क्षणात् । व्यद‍ृश्यन्त घनश्यामा: पीतकौशेयवासस: ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

tāvat sarve vatsa-pālāḥ paśyato ’jasya tat-kṣaṇāt vyadṛśyanta ghana-śyāmāḥ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasaḥ

Translation

И тогда, на глазах у Брахмы, в тот же миг все телята и мальчики-пастушки явились с кожей цвета синеватых дождевых туч и в жёлтых шёлковых одеждах.

Synonyms

• तावत्: then/at that time
• तावत्: Kāla (काल-अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (until/then)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• वत्सपालाः: calf-herds (cowherd boys)
• वत्सपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘वत्सानां पालाः’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पश्यतः: while (he) was looking
• पश्यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive absolute sense: ‘while (he) was seeing’)

• अजस्य: of Brahmā
• अजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तत्क्षणात्: from that instant
• तत्क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/निर्देश: ‘तत् क्षणः’); पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from that very moment’

• व्यदृश्यन्त: appeared/were seen
• व्यदृश्यन्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect, past); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदी (दृश्यते-धात्वर्थे: ‘appeared/were seen’)

• घनश्यामाः: dark like a raincloud
• घनश्यामाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक) + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘घन इव श्यामाः’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• पीतकौशेयवाससः: wearing yellow silk garments
• पीतकौशेयवाससः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + कौशेय (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विशेषणसमास: ‘पीतं कौशेयं वासः येषाम्’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

Purport

While Brahmā was contemplating, all the calves and cowherd boys immediately transformed into viṣṇu-mūrtis, having bluish complexions and wearing yellow garments. Brahmā was contemplating his own power and the immense, unlimited power of Kṛṣṇa, but before he could come to a conclusion, he saw this immediate transformation.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Brahmā witnessing Krishna’s divine expansions?

This verse states that as Brahmā watched, the cowherd boys manifested instantly in forms resembling the Lord—dark like rainclouds and clad in yellow silk—highlighting Krishna’s inconceivable potency.

Why did the cowherd boys appear with a raincloud complexion and yellow garments?

These are classic divine marks associated with Bhagavān (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa), indicating that what Brahmā saw was not ordinary boys, but Krishna’s own supreme expansions.

Practical application of Krishna’s ‘inconceivable power’ in modern life?

The verse encourages humility: even the greatest intellect can be astonished by the Divine, so a seeker should rely on devotion and sincere practice rather than pride in one’s own understanding.