Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति विक्लवितं तासां श्रुत्वा योगेश्वरेश्वर: । प्रहस्य सदयं गोपीरात्मारामोऽप्यरीरमत् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti viklavitaṁ tāsāṁ śrutvā yogeśvareśvaraḥ prahasya sa-dayaṁ gopīr ātmārāmo ’py arīramat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Smiling upon hearing these despondent words from the gopīs, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme master of all masters of mystic yoga, mercifully enjoyed with them, although He is self-satisfied.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विक्लवितम्: the distressed speech/plea
• विक्लवितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्लवित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/कर्मवाचक (distressed utterance/state)

• तासाम्: of them
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• योगेश्वर-ईश्वरः: the Lord of the lords of yoga (supreme master)
• योगेश्वर-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगेश्वर + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (योगेश्वराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• प्रहस्य: having smiled/laughed
• प्रहस्य: Kriya (क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘प्रहस्य’ = having laughed/smiled

• स-दयम्: compassionately
• स-दयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + दय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/सह-समास (दयया सह = compassionate)

• गोपीः: the gopīs
• गोपीः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• आत्म-आरामः: the self-satisfied one
• आत्म-आरामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः आरामः = self-satisfied)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-बोधक अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• अरीरमत्: he delighted/caused to enjoy
• अरीरमत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative/iterative nuance via reduplication (अ-री-रम-त्)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• the gopīs

FAQs

Why is Krishna called Yogeshwara in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29?

Because He is the supreme controller and source of all yogic powers—greater than all perfected yogīs—yet He uses that supremacy to lovingly respond to His devotees.

What does it mean that Krishna is Atmarama yet He pleased the gopis?

It means Kṛṣṇa is complete in Himself and needs nothing, yet out of compassion and love He reciprocates with devotees, giving them joy and deepening their devotion.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual life?

Bring sincere, heartfelt prayer and longing to God; this verse teaches that genuine devotion moves the Lord’s compassion, and He reciprocates in a way that restores the devotee’s faith and joy.