Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 11

The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy

Devanagari script

प्रलम्बं घातयित्वोग्रं बलेन बलशालिना । अमोचयद् व्रजपशून्गोपांश्चारण्यवह्नित: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

pralambaṁ ghātayitvograṁ balena bala-śālinā amocayad vraja-paśūn gopāṁś cāraṇya-vahnitaḥ

Translation

Matapos ipapatay ang kakila-kilabot na Pralamba sa makapangyarihang Balarāma, iniligtas ni Kṛṣṇa ang mga hayop ng Vraja at ang mga batang pastol mula sa apoy sa gubat.

Synonyms

• प्रलम्बम्: Pralamba (the demon)
• प्रलम्बम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• घातयित्वा: having killed
• घातयित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु) → घातयति (णिच् causative) → घातयित्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), णिच्-प्रयोग: ‘having caused to be killed / having slain’

• उग्रम्: fierce
• उग्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies प्रलम्बम्)

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• बल-शालिना: by the strong Balarama
• बल-शालिना: करण/सहकारक (Agent-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: बलं यस्य सः/बलयुक्तः = ‘the strong one’ (instrumental: ‘by the strong (Balarama)’)

• अमोचयत्: released/delivered
• अमोचयत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सकर्मक

• व्रज-पशून्: the cattle of Vraja
• व्रज-पशून्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक) + पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: व्रजस्य पशवः = ‘the cattle of Vraja’

• गोपान्: the cowherd men
• गोपान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आरण्य-वह्नितः: from the forest fire
• आरण्य-वह्नितः: अपादान (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: आरण्यः वह्निः = ‘forest-fire’; पञ्चमी: ‘from the forest-fire’

Characters & Entities

• Pralamba
• Balarāma
• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopas (cowherd boys)
• Vraja-paśus (cows/livestock)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting devotees from danger?

This verse portrays Kṛṣṇa as the deliverer of Vraja—saving the gopas and the cows from a forest fire—showing that the Lord personally protects those who take shelter of Him.

Who killed the demon Pralamba in the Bhagavatam, and why is it important?

Pralamba was killed by Balarāma, described here as extraordinarily powerful; the episode highlights how the Lord’s associates also manifest divine protection to safeguard Vraja.

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

Remembering Kṛṣṇa’s protection encourages steady faith during crises: do one’s duty sincerely, seek divine shelter through prayer and bhakti, and trust that the Lord arranges deliverance in the right way.