Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 34

The Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Hastināpura

Devanagari script

कुरुजाङ्गलपाञ्चालान् शूरसेनान् सयामुनान् । ब्रह्मावर्तं कुरुक्षेत्रं मत्स्यान् सारस्वतानथ ॥ ३४ ॥ मरुधन्वमतिक्रम्य सौवीराभीरयो: परान् । आनर्तान् भार्गवोपागाच्छ्रान्तवाहो मनाग्विभु: ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

kuru-jāṅgala-pāñcālān śūrasenān sayāmunān brahmāvartaṁ kurukṣetraṁ matsyān sārasvatān atha

Translation

噢，绍那迦！随后主行经库鲁姜伽罗、般遮罗、舒罗塞那、阎牟那河畔之地、梵摩伐尔塔、库鲁克舍特拉、摩蹉与萨罗萨瓦塔；又越过马鲁陀难婆的荒漠，渐次到达苏毗罗与阿毗罗诸境，再向西抵达阿那尔塔——德瓦拉卡之国。虽车乘疲惫，至上者稍作歇息，终至德瓦拉卡。

Synonyms

• kuru-jāṅgala-pāñcālān: the Kuru, Jāṅgala and Pāñcāla (lands/people)
• kuru-jāṅgala-pāñcālān: Karma (कर्म) (regions traversed; object with implied ‘passed through’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक) + jāṅgala (प्रातिपदिक) + pāñcāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana; dvandva (समाहार/इतरेतर): the Kurus, Jāṅgalas, and Pāñcālas

• śūrasenān: the Śūrasenas
• śūrasenān: Karma (कर्म) (region traversed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūrasena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana

• sa-yāmunān: together with the Yāmunas/along the Yamunā
• sa-yāmunān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of śūrasenān (or additional region)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + yāmuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘yāmunaiḥ saha’ = ‘together with the Yāmunas/along the Yamunā’

• brahmāvartam: Brahmāvarta
• brahmāvartam: Karma (कर्म) (region traversed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + āvarta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘brahmaṇaḥ āvartaḥ’ (name of region)

• kurukṣetram: Kurukṣetra
• kurukṣetram: Karma (कर्म) (region traversed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘kurūṇāṃ kṣetram’

• matsyān: the Matsyas
• matsyān: Karma (कर्म) (region/people traversed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana

• sārasvatān: the Sārasvatas
• sārasvatān: Karma (कर्म) (region/people traversed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārasvata (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana

• atha: and then/also
• atha: Sambandha/particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, connective particle (समुच्चय/अनन्तर)

Purport

The provinces passed over by the Lord in those days were differently named, but the direction given is sufficient to indicate that He traveled through Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Saurastra and Gujarat and at last reached His home province at Dvārakā. We do not gain any profit simply by researching the analogous provinces of those days up to now, but it appears that the desert of Rajasthan and the provinces of scanty water like Madhya Pradesh were present even five thousand years ago. The theory of soil experts that the desert developed in recent years is not supported by the statements of Bhāgavatam. We may leave the matter for expert geologists to research because the changing universe has different phases of geological development. We are satisfied that the Lord has now reached His own province, Dvārakā-dhāma, from the Kuru provinces. Kurukṣetra continues to exist since the Vedic age, and it is sheer foolishness when interpreters ignore or deny the existence of Kurukṣetra.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kurukṣetra and other holy places in Krishna’s journey?

This verse lists the sacred regions the Lord traversed—Kurukṣetra, Brahmāvarta, and lands by the Yamunā and Sarasvatī—highlighting Bharata-varṣa’s tīrtha geography as connected with the Lord’s līlā.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing Krishna’s travel route in Canto 1 Chapter 10?

He is narrating the Lord’s departure from the Kuru realm toward Dvārakā, marking how the Lord moved through renowned kingdoms and holy tracts after His meeting with the Pāṇḍavas.

Practical application of remembering Krishna’s journey in modern life?

It encourages devotees to sanctify their own “journey” by remembering the Lord regularly and by honoring places, practices, and routines connected to bhakti.