Shloka 1

Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच नन्दस्त्वात्मज उत्पन्ने जाताह्लादो महामना: । आहूय विप्रान् वेदज्ञान्‍स्‍नात: शुचिरलङ्कृत: ॥ १ ॥ वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं जातकर्मात्मजस्य वै । कारयामास विधिवत् पितृदेवार्चनं तथा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca nandas tv ātmaja utpanne jātāhlādo mahā-manāḥ āhūya viprān veda-jñān snātaḥ śucir alaṅkṛtaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī nói: Nanda Mahārāja vốn rất quảng đại; khi Śrī Kṛṣṇa hiện ra làm con trai của ngài, ngài tràn ngập hoan hỷ. Sau khi tắm gội thanh tịnh và trang nghiêm, ngài mời các brāhmaṇa thông thạo thần chú Veda; cho họ tụng các thánh ca svastyayana cát tường, rồi cử hành nghi lễ jātakarma cho hài nhi theo đúng quy tắc, đồng thời sắp đặt việc thờ phụng chư thiên và tổ tiên.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् शुकः); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; Third person, Singular

• नन्दः: Nanda
• नन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• आत्मजे: in/when (his) son
• आत्मजे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• उत्पन्ने: having been born
• उत्पन्ने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√पद्/√पन् (धातु) → उत्पन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past Passive Participle); Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; agrees with आत्मजे

• जात-आह्लादः: whose joy had arisen (became joyful)
• जात-आह्लादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (जातः आह्लादः यस्य); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• महा-मनाः: great-minded
• महा-मनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (महान् मनः यस्य); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकाल; आ-उपसर्ग

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• वेद-ज्ञान्: knowers of the Veda
• वेद-ज्ञान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वेदं जानन्ति ये); Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; qualifies विप्रान्

• स्नातः: bathed
• स्नातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्ना (धातु) → स्नात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• अलङ्कृतः: adorned
• अलङ्कृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम्-√कृ (धातु) → अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has discussed the significance of the words nandas tu. The word tu, he says, is not used to fulfill the sentence, because without tu the sentence is complete. Therefore the word tu is used for a different purpose. Although Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Devakī, Devakī and Vasudeva did not enjoy the jāta-karma, the festival of the birth ceremony. Instead, this ceremony was enjoyed by Nanda Mahārāja, as stated here ( nandas tv ātmaja utpanne jātāhlādo mahā-manāḥ ). When Nanda Mahārāja met Vasudeva, Vasudeva could not disclose, “Your son Kṛṣṇa is actually my son. You are His father in a different way, spiritually.” Because of fear of Kaṁsa, Vasudeva could not observe the festival for Kṛṣṇa’s birth. Nanda Mahārāja, however, took full advantage of this opportunity.

Characters & Entities

• Nanda (Nanda Mahārāja)
• Brāhmaṇas (viprāḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about celebrating Krishna’s birth in Vraja?

It describes Nanda Mahārāja becoming overwhelmed with joy at Krishna’s birth and properly honoring the occasion by bathing, becoming purified, and calling learned brāhmaṇas for Vedic rites.

Why did Nanda Mahārāja summon Veda-knowing brāhmaṇas after Krishna’s birth?

To sanctify the birth through authorized Vedic recitations and rites, showing that devotion in Vraja is expressed with reverence, purity, and dharmic tradition.

Practical application of purity and gratitude shown by Nanda in modern life?

Mark life’s blessings with cleanliness, prayer, and gratitude—seeking wise guidance and dedicating auspicious moments to God through meaningful, sattvic practices.