Shloka 16

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Forest Games and the Slaying of Pralamba

Devanagari script

एवं तौ लोकसिद्धाभि: क्रीडाभिश्चेरतुर्वने । नद्यद्रिद्रोणिकुञ्जेषु काननेषु सर:सु च ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ tau loka-siddhābhiḥ krīḍābhiś ceratur vane nady-adri-droṇi-kuñjeṣu kānaneṣu saraḥsu ca

Translation

ด้วยประการฉะนี้ พระกฤษณะและพระพลรามทรงเล่นกีฬาที่ผู้คนรู้จักกันดีนานาประการ ขณะเสด็จเพลิดเพลินในป่าวฤนทาวัน ท่ามกลางสายน้ำ ภูเขา หุบเขา พุ่มพฤกษา พนาลี และสระสาบ

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• तौ: those two (Rāma and Kṛṣṇa)
• तौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• लोकसिद्धाभिः: with world-famous (games)
• लोकसिद्धाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-सिद्धा (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + सिद्धा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः: 'लोके सिद्धा' (well-known in the world)

• क्रीडाभिः: with games/sports
• क्रीडाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चेरतुः: they roamed/played about
• चेरतुः: क्रिया (Verb; action of Kartā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद? (Perfect-like narrative usage in Purāṇic style) actually लङ्-लकारार्थे लिट्/लिट्-प्रयोगः; उत्तम-निश्चितम्: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद

• वने: in the forest
• वने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• नदी-अद्रि-द्रोणि-कुञ्जेषु: in rivers, mountains, valleys, and groves
• नदी-अद्रि-द्रोणि-कुञ्जेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी + अद्रि + द्रोणि + कुञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) बहुवचन-आधारः, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः (rivers, mountains, valleys, groves)

• काननेषु: in woodlands
• काननेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सरःसु: in lakes/ponds
• सरःसु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna and Balarama’s forest pastimes?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma roaming the Vraja forests, enjoying world-renowned playful pastimes by rivers, mountain valleys, groves, woodlands, and lakes—revealing the sweetness of Bhagavān’s līlā.

Why does Shukadeva Goswami describe the rivers, groves, and lakes in this chapter?

Śukadeva highlights the setting of Vraja to immerse the listener in līlā-smaraṇa (remembrance of divine pastimes) and to show that Kṛṣṇa’s presence sanctifies every feature of the sacred land.

How can devotees apply this shloka in modern life?

Use it as a prompt for devotional remembrance: regularly hear and contemplate Kṛṣṇa’s līlās, and cultivate a simple, joyful spirit centered on God—turning daily life into an offering rather than mere routine.