Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

The Killing of Keśī and Vyomāsura; Nārada’s Prophetic Praise of Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

एकदा ते पशून्पालाश्चारयन्तोऽद्रिसानुषु । चक्रुर्निलायनक्रीडाश्चोरपालापदेशत: ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ekadā te paśūn pālāś’ cārayanto ’dri-sānuṣu cakrur nilāyana-krīḍāś cora-pālāpadeśataḥ

Translation

Isang araw, habang pinapastol nila ang mga hayop sa mga dalisdis ng bundok, naglaro ang mga batang gopa ng larong pagnanakaw at pagtatago, na kunwari’y “magnanakaw at tagapag-alaga,” na gumaganap bilang magkatunggaling magnanakaw at mga pastol.

Synonyms

• ekadā: once
• ekadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; time adverb (कालवाचक)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana

• paśūn: the cattle
• paśūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana

• pālāḥ: the cowherds
• pālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; apposition to te

• cārayantaḥ: grazing (them)
• cārayantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (शतृ) present active participle; Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana

• adri-sānuṣu: on the mountain slopes
• adri-sānuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adri (प्रातिपदिक) + sānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अद्रेः सानुषु)

• cakruḥ: they did/made
• cakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्ष), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• nilāyana-krīḍāḥ: games of hiding
• nilāyana-krīḍāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nilāyana (प्रातिपदिक) + krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निलायनस्य क्रीडाः)

• cora-pāla-apadeśataḥ: on the pretext of ‘thief and guard’
• cora-pāla-apadeśataḥ: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cora (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक) + apadeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; Ablative sense adverb (तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त) from apadeśa: apadeśataḥ = 'on the pretext of'; समासः—चोरपाल (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव) within

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopāla (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s playful pastimes with the cowherd boys?

This verse describes the Vraja boys grazing the herds on the hill-slopes and engaging in a hide-and-seek style game, showing the natural, joyful atmosphere surrounding Kṛṣṇa’s childhood līlā.

Why are the cowherd boys described as playing ‘thieves and guards’ in Bhagavatam 10.37?

Śukadeva explains they used the roles of ‘thief’ and ‘guard’ as a simple pretext for their game—an ordinary village sport that highlights the intimacy and innocence of Vraja life around Kṛṣṇa.

What is a practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It encourages bringing devotion into daily life by remembering Kṛṣṇa through simple, wholesome activities—cultivating a cheerful, community-centered spirit rather than a dry or forced spirituality.