Shloka 29

The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā

Devanagari script

गोपान्वयस्यानाकृष्य तै: संसृज्य विजह्रतु: । वाद्यमानेषु तूर्येषु वल्गन्तौ रुतनूपुरौ ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

gopān vayasyān ākṛṣya taiḥ saṁsṛjya vijahratuḥ vādyamāneṣu tūryeṣu valgantau ruta-nūpurau

Translation

พระกฤษณะและพระพลรามทรงเรียกเหล่าเพื่อนเด็กเลี้ยงวัวให้มาร่วมวง จากนั้นพระองค์ทั้งสองก็ทรงเต้นรำและเล่นสนุก ท่ามกลางเสียงดนตรีและเสียงกำไลข้อเท้าที่ดังกังวาน

Synonyms

• gopān: the cowherd boys
• gopān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• vayasyān: their companions of the same age
• vayasyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• ākṛṣya: having drawn/pulled
• ākṛṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having pulled/drawn’

• taiḥ: with them
• taiḥ: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• saṁsṛjya: having mingled/associated
• saṁsṛjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having joined/mingled’

• vijahratuḥ: the two of them played/sported
• vijahratuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद? (Perfect-like narrative usage), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; ‘they two sported/played’

• vādyamāneṣu: while (they) were being played
• vādyamāneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच् (Present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘while being played/sounded’

• tūryeṣu: in/among the musical instruments
• tūryeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

• valgantau: leaping about (the two)
• valgantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √valg (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘leaping/springing’

• ruta-nūpurau: (having) jingling anklets
• ruta-nūpurau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruta (प्रातिपदिक) + nūpura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभाव: ‘sounding anklets’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Purport

Nowadays we see that in championship boxing matches, as soon as there is a victory, all the friends and relatives of the victorious boxer rush into the ring to congratulate him, and often the champion will dance about in great happiness. Exactly in this mood, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma danced about, celebrating Their victory with Their friends and relatives.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Gopa boys (cowherd friends)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s playful nature even in serious situations?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma joyfully sporting with Their cowherd friends amid the blaring instruments, revealing divine serenity and līlā even in the tense setting of Kaṁsa’s arena.

Why are Krishna and Balarama described as playing with the gopa boys in Canto 10 Chapter 44?

Śukadeva describes Them drawing Their Vraja companions close to highlight Their intimate sakhya-bhāva (friendship mood) and to contrast Their inner bliss with the hostile atmosphere arranged by Kaṁsa.

How can devotees apply the message of this shloka in modern life?

Keep devotional joy and steady remembrance of the Lord even amid pressure—by staying connected to sādhus/devotee friends and engaging the senses (like hearing and kīrtana) in uplifting, God-centered association.