Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33

Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura

Devanagari script

गोप्यो रूढरथा नूत्नकुचकुङ्कुमकान्तय: । कृष्णलीला जगु: प्रीत्या निष्ककण्ठ्य: सुवासस: ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

gopyo rūḍha-rathā nūtna- kuca-kuṅkuma-kāntayaḥ kṛṣṇa-līlā jaguḥ prītyā niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ

Translation

The cowherd women, riding on the bullock carts, were dressed very nicely with excellent garments, and their bodies, especially their breasts, were decorated with fresh kuṅkuma powder. As they rode, they began to chant with great pleasure the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• गोप्यः: the gopīs
• गोप्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; feminine, Nominative, Plural

• रूढ-रथाः: mounted on carts/chariots
• रूढ-रथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूढ (√रुह् धातु, क्त) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (रूढाः रथेषु/रथान्) ‘mounted on chariots’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (गोप्यः इति विशेषण)

• नूतन-कुच-कुङ्कुम-कान्तयः: having the glow of fresh vermilion on their breasts
• नूतन-कुच-कुङ्कुम-कान्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नूतन (प्रातिपदिक) + कुच (प्रातिपदिक) + कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (नूतनं कुच-कुङ्कुमं यस्याः सा/यासां कान्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; feminine, Nominative, Plural (गोप्यः इति विशेषण)

• कृष्ण-लीलाः: Krishna’s pastimes
• कृष्ण-लीलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृष्णस्य लीलाः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; feminine, Accusative, Plural

• जगुः: they sang
• जगुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, Instrumental, Singular (भावे/हेतौ)

• निष्क-कण्ठ्यः: wearing gold neck-ornaments
• निष्क-कण्ठ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (निष्कैः कण्ठ्यः/निष्क-कण्ठ्यः) ‘wearing gold necklaces’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सु-वाससः: in fine garments
• सु-वाससः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सुन्दराणि वासांसि येषाम्) ‘well-dressed’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Gopīs
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs singing Kṛṣṇa-līlā?

This verse describes the gopīs joyfully singing Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes with love, showing that remembrance and glorification of Kṛṣṇa naturally arises from deep Vraja-bhakti.

Why are the gopīs described as well-dressed and ornamented while singing about Kṛṣṇa?

Śukadeva highlights their festive, affectionate mood in Vraja—externally adorned with fine clothes and gold ornaments, and internally absorbed in loving glorification of Kṛṣṇa.

Practical application of singing about Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in modern life?

Regularly hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa-līlā (kīrtana and śravaṇa) can redirect the mind from anxiety to devotion, cultivating steady remembrance and heartfelt joy.