Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

पुरानेन व्रजपते साधवो दस्युपीडिता: । अराजके रक्ष्यमाणा जिग्युर्दस्यून्समेधिता: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

purānena vraja-pate sādhavo dasyu-pīḍitāḥ arājake rakṣyamāṇā jigyur dasyūn samedhitāḥ

Translation

Hỡi Nanda, chủ nhân Vraja, theo sử truyện trong Purana: khi chính quyền trở nên rối loạn và bất lực, người lương thiện bị bọn cướp quấy nhiễu, thì hài nhi này đã xuất hiện để chế ngự kẻ gian ác và bảo hộ dân chúng, khiến họ được an ổn mà hưng thịnh.

Synonyms

• purānena: by ancient precedent
• purānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by an ancient (custom/precedent)’

• vraja-pate: O lord of Vraja
• vraja-pate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘lord of Vraja’

• sādhavaḥ: the virtuous
• sādhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘good people’

• dasyu-pīḍitāḥ: oppressed by bandits
• dasyu-pīḍitāḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dasyu (प्रातिपदिक) + pīḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) ‘oppressed’; तत्पुरुष: ‘oppressed by bandits’

• arājake: when there was no king
• arājake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘in a kingless (state)’

• rakṣyamāṇāḥ: being protected
• rakṣyamāṇāḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣ (धातु) + rakṣyamāṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘being protected’

• jigyuḥ: they conquered
• jigyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they conquered’

• dasyūn: bandits
• dasyūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dasyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• samedhitāḥ: having become strong
• samedhitāḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam√edh (धातु) + samedhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘strengthened, well-equipped/prospered’

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protection during times of lawlessness (arājaka)?

This verse states that even without a ruler, saintly people can protect themselves through unity, resolve, and practical strength, ultimately overcoming aggressors.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Nanda as “vraja-pati” here?

He speaks to Nanda Mahārāja as the leader of Vraja, highlighting Nanda’s responsibility to safeguard the community and reassuring him with an ancient precedent.

How can this Bhagavatam teaching be applied in modern life?

Cultivate community support, preparedness, and principled courage—so that even when external systems fail, one can uphold dharma and resist harmful influences.