Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

तं द‍ृष्ट्वा जलदश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् । प्रलम्बबाहुं ताम्राक्षं सुस्मितं रुचिराननम् ॥ २७ ॥ स्वलङ्कृतमुखाम्भोजं नीलवक्रालकालिभि: । कृष्णं मत्वा स्‍त्रियो ह्रीता निलिल्युस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ dṛṣṭvā jalada-śyāmaṁ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam pralamba-bāhuṁ tāmrākṣaṁ su-smitaṁ rucirānanam

Translation

她们见他如雨云般深蓝的肤色，披黄丝衣，臂长目微赤，莲华般的俊颜含柔笑，又佩华饰、发浓而卷呈青蓝，便认作圣主室利·奎师那；羞怯之下，四处躲藏。

Synonyms

• सु-अलङ्कृत-मुख-अम्भोजम्: whose lotus-like face was well adorned
• सु-अलङ्कृत-मुख-अम्भोजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘सु’ अव्ययपूर्वक; ‘अलङ्कृतं मुखाम्भोजं यस्य’ (determinative)

• नील-वक्र-अलक-आलिभिः: by (his) rows of dark, curling locks
• नील-वक्र-अलक-आलिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अलक (प्रातिपदिक) + आली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘अलक-आलि’ = ‘कर्ल्स्-समूह/पङ्क्ति’; विशेषणसमासपूर्वक

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य (दृष्टस्य)

• मत्वा: thinking (him to be)
• मत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having thought/considered’

• स्त्रियः: the women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ह्रीताः: bashful, abashed
• ह्रीताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्री (धातु) → ह्रीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘लज्जिताः/संकोचिताः’

• निलिल्युः: they hid/withdrew
• निलिल्युः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘निलिल्युः’ = ‘they hid/they withdrew’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• तत्र: here and there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ (emphatic repetition)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), पदपूरण/अवधारणार्थ

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Pradyumna

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe the beauty of Krishna’s form?

This verse highlights the classic features associated with Kṛṣṇa—rain-cloud complexion, yellow silk, long arms, lotus-like reddish eyes, a gentle smile, and dark curling hair—showing why His form naturally awakens devotion and awe.

Why did the women mistake him for Krishna in Bhagavatam 10.55?

Because his appearance closely resembled Kṛṣṇa’s divine beauty and ornaments; seeing those familiar marks, they assumed he was Kṛṣṇa and, feeling shy and reverential, hid themselves.

What is a practical way to apply this verse in daily bhakti practice?

Use the verse as a meditation: contemplate the described features of the Lord’s form while chanting, so the mind becomes absorbed in divine remembrance rather than worldly distraction.