Shloka 18

Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger

Devanagari script

तत आरभ्य नन्दस्य व्रज: सर्वसमृद्धिमान् । हरेर्निवासात्मगुणै रमाक्रीडमभून्नृप ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tata ārabhya nandasya vrajaḥ sarva-samṛddhimān harer nivāsātma-guṇai ramākrīḍam abhūn nṛpa

Translation

นับแต่นั้น วรชะของมหาราชนันทะก็บริบูรณ์ด้วยความมั่งคั่งทั้งปวง เพราะเป็นที่ประทับของพระหริและคุณอันเหนือโลก จึงกลายเป็นสถานที่ลีลาของพระนางลักษมี โอ้พระราชา

Synonyms

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘thereupon/from then’

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√rabh (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta/absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), gerund: ‘having begun/starting from’

• nandasya: of Nanda
• nandasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vrajaḥ: Vraja (cowherd settlement)
• vrajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-samṛddhimān: endowed with all prosperity
• sarva-samṛddhimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + samṛddhi-mant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘vrajaḥ’

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nivāsa-ātma-guṇaiḥ: by the qualities of being Hari’s abode
• nivāsa-ātma-guṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘by/through the qualities’

• ramā-krīḍam: a playground/sporting-place of Lakṣmī (prosperity)
• ramā-krīḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक) + krīḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); predicate accusative with ‘abhūt’

• abhūt: became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

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

Purport

As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.29) , lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. The abode of Kṛṣṇa is always served by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. Wherever Kṛṣṇa goes, the goddess of fortune naturally resides with Him. The chief of the goddesses of fortune is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa’s appearance in the land of Vraja indicated that the chief goddess of fortune, Rādhārāṇī, would also appear there very soon. Nanda Mahārāja’s abode was already opulent, and since Kṛṣṇa had appeared, it would be opulent in all respects.

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Mahārāja
• Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about prosperity in Vraja after Krishna’s appearance?

It says that from the time Krishna (Hari) resided in Nanda’s Vraja, the entire settlement became filled with all prosperity, as if Lakshmi herself was freely sporting there.

Why does Shukadeva Gosvami call Vraja the playground of Lakshmi (Ramā-krīḍam)?

Because Krishna’s residence and His transcendental qualities naturally attract auspiciousness; where Bhagavān is present, Lakshmi—prosperity and fortune—manifests without obstruction.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches that bringing Hari to the center—through sincere bhakti, remembrance, and service—invites real auspiciousness: clarity, harmony, and spiritual well-being, beyond merely material gain.