Shloka 37

The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire

Devanagari script

तत्र गा: पाययित्वाप: सुमृष्टा: शीतला: शिवा: । ततो नृप स्वयं गोपा: कामं स्वादु पपुर्जलम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

tatra gāḥ pāyayitvāpaḥ su-mṛṣṭāḥ śītalāḥ śivāḥ tato nṛpa svayaṁ gopāḥ kāmaṁ svādu papur jalam

Translation

ที่นั่นเหล่าหนุ่มเลี้ยงวัวให้โคดื่มน้ำยมุนาที่ใสสะอาด เย็นชื่น และเป็นมงคล โอ้พระราชา แล้วพวกเขาเองก็ดื่มน้ำนั้นอันหวานชื่นจนเต็มอิ่ม

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: there)

• गाः: the cows
• गाः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पाययित्वा: having made (them) drink
• पाययित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Having done)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) (णिच्) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: पायय-), क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सु-मृष्टाः: very clean/pleasant
• सु-मृष्टाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; कर्मधारयः—सु मृष्टाः (well-clean/very pleasant)

• शीतलाः: cool
• शीतलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिवाः: auspicious, wholesome
• शिवाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kaala/Apadana (काल/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (adverb: then/from there)

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

• स्वयम्: themselves
• स्वयम्: Prayojaka (प्रयोग-निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक-अव्यय (reflexive/emphatic adverb: oneself)

• गोपाः: the cowherd boys
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कामम्: to their heart’s content
• कामम्: Prayojaka (प्रयोग-निपात/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/निपातवत् (particle meaning 'at will/fully/indeed')

• स्वादु: sweet, tasty
• स्वादु: Karma (कर्म/Predicate object-qualifier of जलम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: sweetly)

• पपुः: drank
• पपुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Gopāḥ (cowherd boys)
• Cows of Vraja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the simple life of the gopas in Vraja?

This verse shows the gopas’ natural, pastoral routine—caring for the cows first and then taking their own refreshment—portraying Vraja life as simple, pure, and centered on Krishna’s loving pastimes.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja as 'nṛpa' in this verse?

Śukadeva is narrating to King Parīkṣit, so he directly addresses him (“O King”) while describing the Vraja scene, keeping the listener anchored in the sacred dialogue.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from 'giving the cows water first'?

It highlights responsibility and compassion—serving dependents first—encouraging devotees to practice care, stewardship, and humility as part of devotional living.