Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 34

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

नित्यं प्रमुदिता गोपा वत्सपाला यथास्फुटम् । वनेषु मल्लयुद्धेन क्रीडन्तश्चारयन्ति गा: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

nityaṁ pramuditā gopā vatsa-pālā yathā-sphuṭam vaneṣu malla-yuddhena krīḍantaś cārayanti gāḥ

Translation

众所周知，牧牛童子常怀欢喜，照看小牛；在诸林之中放牧群牛时，他们又嬉戏般彼此摔跤角力。

Synonyms

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• प्रमुदिताः: delighted
• प्रमुदिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-मुद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गोपाः: cowherd men
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वत्सपालाः: calf-herders
• वत्सपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वत्सानां पालाः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; गोपाः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमान/प्रकारवाचक adverb)

• स्फुटम्: clearly, distinctly
• स्फुटम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• वनेषु: in the forests
• वनेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• मल्लयुद्धेन: by/with wrestling
• मल्लयुद्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मल्लानां युद्धम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• क्रीडन्तः: playing
• क्रीडन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तरि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination particle)

• चारयन्ति: they cause to graze / they herd
• चारयन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Purport

Here Cāṇūra explains how the two brothers came to be expert at wrestling.

Characters & Entities

• Gopāḥ (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the daily life of the gopas in Vrindavan?

This verse describes the gopas as always joyful, roaming the forests, playfully wrestling, and grazing the cows—showing the natural, carefree devotion-filled rhythm of Vraja life.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.43.34?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

How can the mood of this shloka be applied in modern life?

Cultivate simplicity, wholesome play and community, and keep one’s daily duties (work, family care) infused with joy and remembrance of the Divine—turning routine into devotional living.