SB 10.37.27 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.37.27

तत्रासन् कतिचिच्चोरा: पालाश्च कतिचिन्नृप । मेषायिताश्च तत्रैके विजह्रुरकुतोभया: ॥ २७ ॥

tatrāsan katicic corāḥ

[tatraasan katichich choraah]

pālāś ca katicin nṛpa

[paalaash cha katichin nripa]

meṣāyitāś ca tatraike

[meshaayitaash cha tatraike]

vijahrur akuto-bhayāḥ

[vijahrur akuto-bhayaah]

Word-for-word

tatra — in that āsan — were katicit — some corāḥ — thieves pālāḥ — herders ca — and katicit — some nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit) meṣāyitāḥ — acting as the sheep ca — and tatra — therein eke — some of them vijahruḥ — they played akutaḥ - bhayāḥ — without any fear .

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

tatrāsan katicic corāḥ

tatra

in that

āsan

were

katicit

some

corāḥ

thieves

pālāś ca katicin nṛpa

pālāḥ

herders

and

katicit

some

nṛpa

O King (Parīkṣit)

meṣāyitāś ca tatraike

meṣāyitāḥ

acting as the sheep

and

tatra

therein

eke

some of them

vijahrur akuto-bhayāḥ

vijahruḥ

they played

akutaḥ - bhayāḥ

without any fear .

Important Words

akutaḥ-bhayāḥ — free from fear of any kind
A (no) + kutaḥ (from where) + bhaya (fear). 'No fear from anywhere.' Gauḍīyas read this as Vraja's signature emotional weather — abhaya, the freedom from fear that comes from having Kṛṣṇa present. Even moments before Vyoma attacks, the boys are abhaya because Kṛṣṇa is among them.
meṣāyitāḥ — acting as sheep
From meṣa (sheep) + denominative -āya. The boys pretend to be sheep. Gauḍīyas note: in their role-play they unwittingly become the very prey-class an asura will target, and Kṛṣṇa will protect them not from sheep-hood but from the wolf disguised as a friend.
vijahruḥ — they played
Vi-hṛ — to disport, to play. Same root as vihāra (play). The boys' play and Kṛṣṇa's līlā use the same verb; the structural identity is intentional.

In that game, O King, some acted as thieves, others as shepherds and others as sheep. They played their game happily, without fear of danger.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

In that game, O King, some acted as thieves, others as shepherds and others as sheep. They played their game happily, without fear of danger.

Commentary

They played without fear. They were without fear because whoever was stolen and whoever stole, and all the protectors as well, were friends.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

This describes the game. They stole the sheep at ease without any shouting, even though killing? They did this on a mountain plateau.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

The method of the game is described. In that game or among the boys (tatra), some were thieves, some were shepherds and some were sheep. The sheep were taken easily without shouting. They played on the plateau because they were without fear, by the influence of the Lord. Or all fear had been extinguished after Kṛṣṇa had killed Keśī and other great demons in Vṛndāvana. This was also the cause of Vyoma entering among them. They could only become happy by playing without fear. Or there was no fear of time, since they did not worry about being separated from the Lord. O king! You understand, since when there is a king, the population is without fear.

Related values & verses

Related values

Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)

Concepts

Jiva

Personal Guidance

Some boys act as thieves, others as shepherds, others as sheep — playing happily without fear of danger. Innocent play presumes a safe world; the Lord's presence underwrites the boys' fearlessness.

Reflection Questions

Where do you forfeit playfulness because you no longer assume Kṛṣṇa's underlying protection?
What part of your life would loosen if you could play as if He were watching?

Analogy

Some boys are thieves, some are shepherds, some are sheep — and all play without fear. The verse names akutaḥ-bhayāḥ: 'with fear from no direction.' Vraja's defining atmosphere is fearlessness, because the Protector is one of the players.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io