Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

तावद् व्रजौकसस्तत्र नन्दगोपादयोऽग्रत: । पुरोपवनमासाद्य प्रतीक्षन्तोऽवतस्थिरे ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

tāvad vrajaukasas tatra nanda-gopādayo ’grataḥ puropavanam āsādya pratīkṣanto ’vatasthire

Translation

ฝ่ายนันทโคปะและชาววรชะคนอื่นๆ มาถึงมถุราก่อนรถศึกแล้ว พวกเขาไปถึงสวนที่ชานเมืองและหยุดรอคอยพระกฤษณะกับพระพลรามอยู่ที่นั่น

Synonyms

• तावत्: meanwhile
• तावत्: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालपरिमाणवाचक (temporal adverb ‘meanwhile/so long’)

• व्रज-ओकसः: the residents of Vraja
• व्रज-ओकसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nom.), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘व्रजस्य ओकसः’ = ‘inhabitants of Vraja’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• नन्द-गोप-आदयः: Nanda, the cowherds, and others
• नन्द-गोप-आदयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व ‘नन्दश्च गोपाश्च’ + ‘आदयः’ (etc.)

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb ‘in front/ahead’)

• पुर-उपवनम्: the city-grove (garden near the city)
• पुर-उपवनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘पुरस्य उपवनम्’

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय-भाव (gerund) ‘having reached/approached’

• प्रतीक्षन्तः: waiting
• प्रतीक्षन्तः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘व्रजौकसः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अवतस्थिरे: stood / remained
• अवतस्थिरे: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Purport

Nanda and the others reached Mathurā first because the chariot carrying Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma was delayed by Akrūra’s bathing.

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Gopa (Nanda Mahārāja)
• Vrajavāsīs (residents of Vraja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Vrajavasis going to Mathura with Krishna?

This verse shows the Vrajavāsīs, led by Nanda Mahārāja, moving ahead to Mathurā’s garden-park and waiting—highlighting their constant attachment and loving concern for Kṛṣṇa during His Mathurā journey.

Why were Nanda Maharaja and the Vrajavasis waiting in the city garden (upavana)?

In the narrative of Canto 10, Chapter 41, they reach a suitable place near Mathurā—a public garden—where they can stay together and await Kṛṣṇa as He proceeds into the city for His divine mission.

Practical application of the Vrajavasis’ mood of waiting for Krishna in modern life?

Cultivate steady devotion by arranging your life around remembrance of Kṛṣṇa—creating “waiting spaces” like daily japa, kīrtana, and scripture time—so the heart stays oriented toward Him even amid transitions and uncertainty.