Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.52 — Dashama Skandha, Canto 10, Chapter 3, Verse 52

The Appearance of Lord Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) and the Divine Exchange with Yoga-māyā

Devanagari script

देवक्या: शयने न्यस्य वसुदेवोऽथ दारिकाम् । प्रतिमुच्य पदोर्लोहमास्ते पूर्ववदावृत: ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

devakyāḥ śayane nyasya vasudevo ’tha dārikām pratimucya pador loham āste pūrvavad āvṛtaḥ

Translation

Inilagay ni Vasudeva ang sanggol na babae sa kama ni Devaki, itinali ang kanyang mga binti ng bakal na kadena, at nanatili doon tulad ng dati.

Synonyms

• devakyāḥ: of Devakī
• devakyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive, 6th), एकवचन (singular)

• śayane: on the bed
• śayane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative, 7th), एकवचन (singular)

• nyasya: having placed
• nyasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive), ‘having placed/put’

• vasudevaḥ: Vasudeva
• vasudevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: then/thereupon)

• dārikām: the baby girl
• dārikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dārikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• pratimucya: having fastened
• pratimucya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√muc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having fastened/put on (again)’

• padoḥ: of (his) feet
• padoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive, 6th), द्विवचन (dual)

• loham: iron (fetters)
• loham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• āste: remained/sat
• āste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद

• pūrvavat: as before
• pūrvavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvavat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीतिवाचक (adverb: as before)

• āvṛtaḥ: (being) covered/closed
• āvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered/closed’

Characters & Entities

• Devakī
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vasudeva’s role in Krishna’s birth pastime?

This verse shows Vasudeva carefully completing the divine plan—placing the baby girl on Devakī’s bed and returning to his chained, covered state—so Kṛṣṇa’s protection and the unfolding of līlā could proceed without suspicion.

Why did Vasudeva put the baby girl on Devaki’s bed and lie down as before?

After bringing Kṛṣṇa to safety, Vasudeva returned with the baby girl (Yogamāyā) and restored everything to appear unchanged—refastening his shackles and lying covered—so Kaṁsa would find a newborn in the prison and the narrative would unfold as destined.

Practical application of surrender and careful duty from this shloka in modern life?

Do your responsibility with steadiness and discretion, trusting the higher plan—act sincerely, avoid unnecessary display, and remain composed even under pressure.