Shloka 4

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

तथाघवदनान्मृत्यो रक्षित्वा वत्सपालकान् । सरित्पुलिनमानीय भगवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tathāgha-vadanān mṛtyo rakṣitvā vatsa-pālakān sarit-pulinam ānīya bhagavān idam abravīt

Translation

随后，至上主薄伽梵圣奎师那从象征死亡的阿迦苏罗口中救出牧童与牛犊，带他们来到河岸，并说道如下。

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-अर्थे (adverb of manner)

• अघ-वदनात्: from the mouth of the demon Agha
• अघ-वदनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ-वदन (प्रातिपदिक) = अघ + वदन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘अघं वदनं यस्य/अघस्य वदनम्’)

• मृत्योः: of death
• मृत्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• रक्षित्वा: having protected
• रक्षित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having protected’

• वत्स-पालकान्: the calf-herd boys
• वत्स-पालकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स-पालक (प्रातिपदिक) = वत्स + पालक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वत्सानां पालकाः’)

• सरित्-पुलिनम्: the river-bank
• सरित्-पुलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित्-पुलिन (प्रातिपदिक) = सरित् + पुलिन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘सरितः पुलिनम्’ = river-bank)

• आनीय: having brought (them)
• आनीय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund); ‘having brought’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vatsapālakāḥ (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting His devotees from danger?

This verse states that Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally protected the cowherd boys from a deathly peril, showing His role as the direct guardian of those under His shelter.

Why did Krishna bring the cowherd boys to the riverbank (sarit-pulinam)?

After saving them, Kṛṣṇa led them to the riverbank—a calm setting—so He could address them and continue the pastime in an orderly, reassuring way.

How can a devotee apply this verse in modern life?

Remember Kṛṣṇa as the protector in times of fear, and respond to crises by taking shelter in devotion and steadiness rather than panic.