Shloka 25

Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate

Devanagari script

काश्‍चिद् विपर्यग्धृतवस्त्रभूषणा विस्मृत्य चैकं युगलेष्वथापरा: । कृतैकपत्रश्रवनैकनूपुरा नाङ्‌क्त्वा द्वितीयं त्वपराश्च लोचनम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

kāścid viparyag-dhṛta-vastra-bhūṣaṇā vismṛtya caikaṁ yugaleṣv athāparāḥ kṛtaika-patra-śravanaika-nūpurā nāṅktvā dvitīyaṁ tv aparāś ca locanam

Translation

สตรีบางนางสวมผ้าและเครื่องประดับกลับด้าน บางนางลืมต่างหูข้างหนึ่งหรือกำไลข้อเท้าข้างหนึ่ง และบางนางแต่งเพียงตาข้างเดียว อีกข้างมิได้แต่ง ด้วยความรีบร้อนยิ่งนัก

Synonyms

• काःचित्: some (women)
• काःचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (some)

• विपर्यक्-धृत-वस्त्र-भूषणाः: with garments and ornaments worn askew
• विपर्यक्-धृत-वस्त्र-भूषणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपर्यक् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + धृत (धृ धातु, क्त) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-समूह (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (काःचित्)

• विस्मृत्य: having forgotten
• विस्मृत्य: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-स्मृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having forgotten’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एकम्: one (of the pair)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वस्त्र/भूषण-ग्रहणम्)

• युगलेषु: in the pairs
• युगलेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• अपराः: others
• अपराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘others’

• कृत-एक-पत्र-श्रवण-एक-नूपुराः: having put on only one ear-ornament and only one anklet
• कृत-एक-पत्र-श्रवण-एक-नूपुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + नूपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-समूह (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (अपराः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• अङ्क्त्वा: having applied (kohl)
• अङ्क्त्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having anointed/applied’ (negated by न)

• द्वितीयम्: the second
• द्वितीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (लोचनम्)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• अपराः: others
• अपराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘others’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• लोचनम्: eye
• लोचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

The ladies were very eager to see Kṛṣṇa, and in their haste and excitement they forgot themselves.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Women of Mathurā (Mathurā-striyaḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the feelings of devotees when they get Krishna’s darshan?

This verse shows devotees becoming so absorbed in eagerness to see Kṛṣṇa that ordinary attention to dress and cosmetics is forgotten—an outward sign of intense devotion and attraction to Him.

Why are the women of Mathurā described as wearing ornaments incorrectly in Bhagavatam 10.41?

Śukadeva describes their haste and absorption: they rushed out to see Kṛṣṇa immediately, so excitement overpowered social formality and careful dressing.

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 10.41.25 for modern life?

When spiritual priorities become central—seeking the Lord’s presence—lesser anxieties about appearance and perfection naturally diminish.