Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

निशम्य गीतं तदनङ्गवर्धनंव्रजस्त्रिय: कृष्णगृहीतमानसा: । आजग्मुरन्योन्यमलक्षितोद्यमा:स यत्र कान्तो जवलोलकुण्डला: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

niśamya gītāṁ tad anaṅga-vardhanaṁ vraja-striyaḥ kṛṣṇa-gṛhīta-mānasāḥ ājagmur anyonyam alakṣitodyamāḥ sa yatra kānto java-lola-kuṇḍalāḥ

Translation

When the young women of Vṛndāvana heard Kṛṣṇa’s flute-song, which arouses romantic feelings, their minds were captivated by the Lord. They went to where their lover waited, each unknown to the others, moving so quickly that their earrings swung back and forth.

Synonyms

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त ल्यप्), from √śam ‘to hear/attend’ with prefix ni-

• gītam: the song
• gītam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक; √gai क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; demonstrative

• anaṅga-vardhanam: increasing love/desire (Cupid)
• anaṅga-vardhanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘anaṅgasya vardhanam’

• vraja-striyaḥ: the women of Vraja
• vraja-striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘vrajasya striyaḥ’

• kṛṣṇa-gṛhīta-mānasāḥ: whose minds were seized by Krishna
• kṛṣṇa-gṛhīta-mānasāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛhīta (प्रातिपदिक; √grah क्त) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘kṛṣṇena gṛhītaṃ mānasaṃ yāsām’

• ājagmuḥ: came
• ājagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; from √gam with prefix ā-

• anyonyam: mutually/one another
• anyonyam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal adverb (परस्परवाचक-अव्यय), used as adverbial accusative

• alakṣita-udyamāḥ: with efforts unnoticed
• alakṣita-udyamāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-lakṣita (प्रातिपदिक; √lakṣ क्त) + udyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; ‘alakṣitaḥ udyamaḥ yāsām’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Adhikaraṇa-sūcaka (अधिकरण-सूचक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• kāntaḥ: the beloved (Krishna)
• kāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• java-lola-kuṇḍalāḥ: whose earrings trembled swiftly
• java-lola-kuṇḍalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: java (प्रातिपदिक) + lola (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular intended (agreeing with kāntaḥ); compound used as adjective: ‘java-lolāni kuṇḍalāni yasya’ (bahuvrīhi sense)

Purport

Apparently each gopī went secretly, hoping to avoid advertising to her rivals the fact that young Kṛṣṇa was in the mood for romantic affairs. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī poetically describes the situation as follows:

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-striyaḥ (Gopīs of Vraja)
• Anaṅga (Kāma/Cupid)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s flute song attracting the gopis?

This verse says the gopīs heard Kṛṣṇa’s song, which powerfully stirred love, and with minds captured by Him they hurried to the place where He was, their intentions unnoticed due to their urgency.

Why did the gopis go to Krishna in Bhagavatam 10.29?

Because their hearts were taken by Kṛṣṇa; upon hearing His song they could not remain at home and rushed to meet their beloved, indicating irresistible devotion and attraction to Him.

Practical application of the gopis’ response to Krishna’s call in modern life?

Respond promptly to genuine spiritual inspiration—prioritize remembrance of God, keep focus steady, and act with sincerity rather than hesitation when devotion awakens.