Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17

Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints

Devanagari script

कृष्णरामायिते द्वे तु गोपायन्त्यश्च काश्चन । वत्सायतीं हन्ति चान्या तत्रैका तु बकायतीम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇa-rāmāyite dve tu gopāyantyaś ca kāścana vatsāyatīṁ hanti cānyā tatraikā tu bakāyatīm

Translation

Two gopīs acted like Rāma and Kṛṣṇa in the midst of several others, who took the role of cowherd boys. One gopī enacted Kṛṣṇa’s killing of the demon Vatsāsura, represented by another gopī, and a pair of gopīs acted out the killing of Bakāsura.

Synonyms

• kṛṣṇa-rāmāyite: in (the play of) Kṛṣṇa-and-Rāma roles
• kṛṣṇa-rāmāyite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + āyita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/locative); एकवचन; (कृष्ण-रामयोः अभिनय-स्थितौ) ‘in the enactment of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma’

• dve: two (gopīs)
• dve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); द्विवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)

• gopāyantyaḥ: acting as cowherds
• gopāyantyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gopāyantī (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √i/यन्-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); बहुवचन; (acting as cowherds)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• kāścana: some (others)
• kāścana: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kā (kim; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + cana (अव्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (some)

• vatsāyatīm: the one acting as Vatsa (the calf demon)
• vatsāyatīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsāyatī (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √i/यन्-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd); एकवचन; (one acting as Vatsa-demon/calf)

• hanti: strikes/kills
• hanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• anyā: another (gopī)
• anyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• ekā: one (gopī)
• ekā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• bakāyatīm: the one acting as Baka
• bakāyatīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bakāyatī (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √i/यन्-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd); एकवचन; (one acting as Baka-demon)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Gopīs
• Vatsāsura
• Bakāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Krishna through His pastimes?

This verse shows the gopīs reenacting Kṛṣṇa’s childhood līlās—an intense form of remembrance where love makes His presence felt even in separation.

Why were the gopīs acting out the killings of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura?

In their search for Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs became absorbed in His deeds; reenacting demon-slaying līlās expressed both their awe for His protection and their longing to find Him.

Practical application of lila-smaraṇa (remembering divine pastimes) in modern life?

Regularly hear and reflect on Kṛṣṇa’s līlās (śravaṇa-manana), and let that remembrance replace anxiety with trust in divine protection and guidance.