Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 2

Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā

Devanagari script

तदोडुराज: ककुभ: करैर्मुखंप्राच्या विलिम्पन्नरुणेन शन्तमै: । स चर्षणीनामुदगाच्छुचो मृजन्प्रिय: प्रियाया इव दीर्घदर्शन: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

tadoḍurājaḥ kakubhaḥ karair mukhaṁ prācyā vilimpann aruṇena śantamaiḥ sa carṣaṇīnām udagāc chuco mṛjan priyaḥ priyāyā iva dīrgha-darśanaḥ

Translation

The moon then rose, anointing the face of the eastern horizon with the reddish hue of his comforting rays, and thus dispelling the pain of all who watched him rise. The moon was like a beloved husband who returns after a long absence and adorns the face of his beloved wife with red kuṅkuma.

Synonyms

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time

• uḍu-rājaḥ: the king of stars (the moon)
• uḍu-rājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uḍu (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘uḍūnām rājā’

• kakubhaḥ: the directions/quarters
• kakubhaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakubh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• karaiḥ: with (his) rays/hands
• karaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mukham: the face
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• prācyāḥ: of the eastern (direction)
• prācyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• vilimpan: smearing/anointing
• vilimpan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lip (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; from √lip ‘to smear’ with prefix vi-

• aruṇena: with reddish (light)
• aruṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• śantamaiḥ: with the most gentle/soothing (rays)
• śantamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śantama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); superlative (तमप्)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• carṣaṇīnām: of the people/men
• carṣaṇīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carṣaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• udagāt: rose up
• udagāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-gam (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); from √gam with prefix ud-

• śucaḥ: sorrows
• śucaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mṛjan: cleansing/removing
• mṛjan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; from √mṛj ‘to wipe/cleanse’

• priyaḥ: dear
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• priyāyāḥ: of (his) beloved
• priyāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) of comparison

• dīrgha-darśanaḥ: long-awaited/seen after long time
• dīrgha-darśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘dīrghaṃ darśanaṃ yasya/yaḥ’ (long-appearing/long-seen)

Purport

Young Kṛṣṇa engaged His internal potency, and she immediately created an exciting atmosphere for conjugal love.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the moonrise during Krishna’s Rasa Lila?

In this verse, the moon is described as rising gently and soothingly, as if wiping away people’s sorrow—setting a tender, devotional atmosphere for Kṛṣṇa’s nocturnal Vraja pastimes.

Why is the moon compared to a beloved seen after a long time in Bhagavatam 10.29.2?

Śukadeva uses this poetic comparison to evoke the mood of separation and reunion, mirroring the gopīs’ intense longing that culminates in meeting Kṛṣṇa.

Practical application of the ‘wiping away sorrow’ imagery in modern life?

The verse teaches that remembrance of the divine—like the moon’s cooling rise—can calm the mind and soften grief, especially when practiced through steady bhakti (hearing, chanting, and contemplation).