Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 49

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

विषाम्भस्तदुपस्पृश्य दैवोपहतचेतस: । निपेतुर्व्यसव: सर्वे सलिलान्ते कुरूद्वह ॥ ४९ ॥ वीक्ष्य तान् वै तथाभूतान् कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वर: । ईक्षयामृतवर्षिण्या स्वनाथान् समजीवयत् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

viṣāmbhas tad upaspṛśya daivopahata-cetasaḥ nipetur vyasavaḥ sarve salilānte kurūdvaha

Translation

他们一触及毒水，便在主的神力作用下神识昏迷，所有牛群与牧童都倒毙在水边，噢，俱卢族的英杰。

Synonyms

• viṣa-ambhaḥ: poisoned water
• viṣa-ambhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘viṣasya ambhaḥ’

• tat: that (water)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• upaspṛśya: having touched/sipped
• upaspṛśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-spr̥ś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having touched/sipped’

• daiva-upahata-cetasaḥ: whose minds were overpowered by fate
• daiva-upahata-cetasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक) + upa-han (धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; बहुव्रीहि: ‘daivena upahatam cetas yeṣām’ = whose minds were struck by fate

• nipetuḥ: they fell down
• nipetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vi-asavaḥ: lifeless, dead
• vi-asavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-su (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; with prefix vi-; ‘without life’

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun/adjective used substantively

• salila-ante: at the edge of the water
• salila-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘salilasya antaḥ’

• kurūdvaha: O best of the Kurus
• kurūdvaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक) + ud-vah (धातु/प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन; ‘kurūṇām udvaha’ = best of the Kurus

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Kṛṣṇa (implied in context)
• Kṛṣṇa’s companions (cowherd boys/cows, implied)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting devotees from poison and calamity?

This verse describes how the Lord’s companions collapsed after touching poisoned water, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s divine intervention—showing that even deadly danger is overcome by His protection.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī say their minds were ‘bewildered by fate’ (daivopahata-cetasaḥ)?

He indicates that an overpowering arrangement of providence momentarily covered their discernment, so they touched the poisoned water—highlighting the contrast between helplessness of the jīvas and the Lord’s saving power.

Practical application: how can a devotee respond when life feels ‘poisoned’ by circumstances?

Remember the Lord as protector, avoid panic-driven choices, and take shelter through prayer and steady devotion—trusting that divine grace can restore what seems lost.