Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20

The Murder of Satrājit and the Recovery of the Syamantaka Jewel

Devanagari script

मिथिलायामुपवने विसृज्य पतितं हयम् । पद्‍भ्यामधावत् सन्त्रस्त: कृष्णोऽप्यन्वद्रवद् रुषा ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

mithilāyām upavane visṛjya patitaṁ hayam padbhyām adhāvat santrastaḥ kṛṣṇo ’py anvadravad ruṣā

Translation

Sa isang hardin sa labas ng Mithilā, bumagsak ang kabayong sinasakyan ni Śatadhanvā. Sa takot, iniwan niya ang kabayo at nagsimulang tumakas nang naglalakad, habang galit na humahabol si Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• mithilāyām: in Mithilā
• mithilāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• upavane: in a grove
• upavane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• visṛjya: having abandoned
• visṛjya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), “having let go/abandoned”

• patitam: fallen
• patitam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक; √pat + क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta adjective (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies hayam

• hayam: the horse
• hayam: Karma (कर्म) (object of visṛjya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• padbhyām: on foot; with (his) feet
• padbhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); “with (his) feet”

• adhāvat: ran
• adhāvat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√dhāv (धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada, Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• santrastaḥ: terrified
• santrastaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) as predicate adjective
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-√tras (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies implied subject (Śatadhanvā)

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Krishna
• kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of anvadravat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya particle (also)

• anvadravat: ran after; pursued
• anvadravat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√drav (धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada, Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• ruṣā: with anger
• ruṣā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; abstract noun “with anger”

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna chasing the wrongdoer in the Syamantaka episode?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa personally pursuing the frightened offender on foot after the horse falls, indicating swift divine response to wrongdoing in the Syamantaka narrative.

Why was Krishna angry and running after him in Bhagavatam 10.57?

Within the Syamantaka-jewel storyline, Kṛṣṇa’s anger reflects His resolve to expose the crime and restore justice, so that dharma and truth are upheld.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Wrong actions create fear and flight, while integrity requires facing consequences; the verse encourages accountability and confidence in the eventual triumph of truth.