Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

गत्यानुरागस्मितविभ्रमेक्षितै- र्मनोरमालापविहारविभ्रमै: । आक्षिप्तचित्ता: प्रमदा रमापते- स्तास्ता विचेष्टा जगृहुस्तदात्मिका: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

gatyānurāga-smita-vibhramekṣitair mano-ramālāpa-vihāra-vibhramaiḥ ākṣipta-cittāḥ pramadā ramā-pates tās tā viceṣṭā jagṛhus tad-ātmikāḥ

Translation

As the cowherd women remembered Lord Kṛṣṇa, their hearts were overwhelmed by His movements and loving smiles, His playful glances and enchanting talks, and by the many other pastimes He would enjoy with them. Thus absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Ramā, the gopīs began acting out His various transcendental pastimes.

Synonyms

• गत्या-अनुराग-स्मित-विभ्रम-ईक्षितैः: by (his) glances with gait, affection, smile, and playful gestures
• गत्या-अनुराग-स्मित-विभ्रम-ईक्षितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षित (√ईक्ष् धातु; क्त/भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: समास: बहुपद-द्वन्द्व (समाहार/इतरेतर) ‘गत्या च अनुरागः च स्मितं च विभ्रमः च (तैः) ईक्षितैः’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental); बहुवचन

• मनः-रम-आलाप-विहार-विभ्रमैः: by charming talk, play, and amorous sport
• मनः-रम-आलाप-विहार-विभ्रमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विहार (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुपद-द्वन्द्व ‘मनोरमः आलापः च विहारः च विभ्रमः च’; पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• आक्षिप्त-चित्ताः: whose minds were captivated
• आक्षिप्त-चित्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आक्षिप्त (आ + √क्षिप् धातु; क्त/भूतकृदन्त) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय) ‘आक्षिप्तं चित्तं यासाम्’; बहुव्रीहि-भावेन विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• प्रमदाः: the young women
• प्रमदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• रमा-पतेः: of the Lord of Lakṣmī
• रमा-पतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘रमायाः पतिः’; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• ताः: they
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• ताः: those (same)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• विचेष्टाः: gestures/acts
• विचेष्टाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative); बहुवचन

• जगृहुः: they adopted/assumed
• जगृहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन

• तत्-आत्मिकाः: identifying with him/that
• तत्-आत्मिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘तदात्मा’ + तद्धित -क; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; ‘consisting of that/identified with that’

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes the following charming exchange between Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs:

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs
• Lakṣmī (Ramā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs’ remembrance of Kṛṣṇa in separation?

This verse shows that separation intensifies remembrance: the gopīs become so absorbed that they imitate Kṛṣṇa’s gait, smile, glances, speech, and playful actions, identifying with Him in devotion.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the gopīs imitating Kṛṣṇa’s actions?

In the narrative of Canto 10, Chapter 30, Kṛṣṇa disappears from the rāsa dance; Śukadeva explains the gopīs’ heightened love by showing how their minds are seized by Him, leading them to reenact His līlā symptoms.

Practical application of viraha-bhakti (devotion in separation) in modern life?

When you cannot feel immediate spiritual closeness, deepen remembrance through conscious imitation of devotional qualities—gentleness in speech, purity in conduct, and steady meditation on the Lord’s pastimes.