Shloka 20

Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture

Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict

Devanagari script

चित्रलेखा तमाज्ञाय पौत्रं कृष्णस्य योगिनी । ययौ विहायसा राजन् द्वारकां कृष्णपालिताम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

citralekhā tam ājñāya pautraṁ kṛṣṇasya yoginī yayau vihāyasā rājan dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇa-pālitām

Translation

ข้าแต่มหาราช จิตรเลขาผู้มีฤทธิ์โยคะรู้ว่าเขาเป็นพระนัดดาของพระกฤษณะ (อนิรุทธ) แล้วจึงเหาะไปตามทางฟ้า สู่ทวารกาซึ่งอยู่ใต้การคุ้มครองของพระศรีกฤษณะ

Synonyms

• चित्रलेखा: Citralekhā
• चित्रलेखा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रलेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय—चित्रा लेखा यस्याः (name)

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• आज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय-भाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having understood/known)

• पौत्रम्: grandson
• पौत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृष्णस्य: of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• योगिनी: the yoginī (mystic woman)
• योगिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विहायसा: through the sky
• विहायसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental: by/through the sky)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• द्वारकाम्: to Dvārakā
• द्वारकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृष्णपालिताम्: protected by Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णपालिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पालित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पाल्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—कृष्णेन/कृष्णस्य पालिता (protected by Kṛṣṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Citralekhā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Aniruddha
• Parīkṣit
• Dvārakā

FAQs

Who is Citralekhā in Srimad Bhagavatam and what does she do?

Citralekhā is a mystic yoginī who, upon recognizing Aniruddha as Kṛṣṇa’s grandson, travels through the sky to Dvārakā, showing her yogic power and involvement in the unfolding līlā.

Why is Dvārakā described as protected by Krishna in Bhagavatam?

The verse highlights that Dvārakā is under Kṛṣṇa’s direct protection, emphasizing His supreme guardianship over His devotees and His divine city.

Practical application: What does this verse teach a devotee today?

It reminds devotees to see Kṛṣṇa’s shelter as the real protection—greater than any worldly security—and to trust that the Lord safeguards those connected to Him.