Shloka 6

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

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

अत्र भोक्तव्यमस्माभिर्दिवारूढं क्षुधार्दिता: । वत्सा: समीपेऽप: पीत्वा चरन्तु शनकैस्तृणम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

atra bhoktavyam asmābhir divārūḍhaṁ kṣudhārditāḥ vatsāḥ samīpe ’paḥ pītvā carantu śanakais tṛṇam

Translation

บัดนี้สายมากแล้ว เราหิวกันนัก จึงควรกินอาหารที่นี่ ให้ลูกวัวดื่มน้ำใกล้ๆ แล้วค่อยๆ เดินไปมาเล็มหญ้าเถิด

Synonyms

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• भोक्तव्यम्: should be eaten / let us eat
• भोक्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्/भुज्(भुज्=भोजने) (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे ‘we should eat’

• अस्माभिः: by us / we
• अस्माभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• दिवा-आरूढम्: (as) the day has advanced
• दिवा-आरूढम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवा-आरूढ (प्रातिपदिक) = दिवा (अव्यय) + आरूढ (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (काल-स्थितिः): ‘दिवा आरूढम्’ = daytime has advanced; अव्ययीभाव-समास

• क्षुधा-अर्दिताः: afflicted by hunger
• क्षुधा-अर्दिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुधा-अर्दित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) = क्षुधा + अर्दित (अर्द् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (अस्माभिः) ‘hunger-afflicted’

• वत्साः: the calves
• वत्साः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• समीपे: nearby
• समीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative used adverbially); देशवाचक

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘अप्’ शब्दः

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• चरन्तु: let them graze/wander
• चरन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• शनकैः: slowly
• शनकैः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनकैस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (slowly, gently)

• तृणम्: grass
• तृणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Cowherd boys (gopāḥ)
• Calves (vatsāḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s lunch pastime with the cowherd boys?

This verse shows the simple, affectionate Vraja mood: Kṛṣṇa and the boys pause to eat when the day is advanced, while ensuring the calves are cared for—revealing divine play expressed through ordinary village life.

Why did Krishna tell the boys to let the calves drink water and graze first?

In the Vṛndāvana līlā, Kṛṣṇa acts as an ideal cowherd companion—thoughtful and responsible—so the calves are tended before the boys eat, setting the scene just before Brahmā’s bewildering episode unfolds in this chapter.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Do your duties with care and kindness—attend to those dependent on you first, then take what you need—while keeping life simple and devotional in spirit.