giri -- of a mountain; daryam -- in a cave; vinikshipya -- throwing; nitam nitam -- gradually bringing them; maha-asurah -- the great demon; silaya -- with a stone; pidadhe -- he blocked; dvaram -- the entrance; catuh-panca -- four or five; avaseshitah -- remained.

Gradually the great demon abducted more and more of the cowherd boys and cast them into a mountain cave, which he sealed shut with a boulder. Finally only four or five boys acting as sheep remained in the game.