Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation

Viraha-bhakti

Devanagari script

दिनपरिक्षये नीलकुन्तलै- र्वनरुहाननं बिभ्रदावृतम् । घनरजस्वलं दर्शयन् मुहु- र्मनसि न: स्मरं वीर यच्छसि ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

dina-parikṣaye nīla-kuntalair vanaruhānanaṁ bibhrad āvṛtam ghana-rajasvalaṁ darśayan muhur manasi naḥ smaraṁ vīra yacchasi

Translation

At the end of the day You repeatedly show us Your lotus face, covered with dark blue locks of hair and thickly powdered with dust. Thus, O hero, You arouse lusty desires in our minds.

Synonyms

• dina-parikṣaye: at the end of the day
• dina-parikṣaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक) + parikṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; तत्पुरुष (dinasya parikṣaye)

• nīla-kuntalaiḥ: with dark locks (of hair)
• nīla-kuntalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + kuntala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; कर्मधारय (nīlāḥ kuntalāḥ)

• vanaruha-ānanam: lotus-face
• vanaruha-ānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanaruha (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष (vanaruhasya ānanam)

• bibhrat: bearing/wearing
• bibhrat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु) (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with tvam

• āvṛtam: covered
• āvṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āvṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ (धातु) with ā-)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) qualifying vanaruha-ānanam

• ghana-rajasvalam: thick with dust
• ghana-rajasvalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + rajasvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारय (ghanam rajaḥ yasya / ghanena rajasā valam) qualifying vanaruha-ānanam

• darśayan: showing
• darśayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) [णिच् causative: darśay-]
• Form: Causative present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• manasi: in the mind
• manasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Plural; enclitic

• smaram: love/desire (Kāma)
• smaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• yacchasi: you bestow/bring about
• yacchasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis
• Smara (Kama)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam 10.31.12 (Gopi Gita)?

The gopīs say that at dusk Kṛṣṇa’s dark hair partly veils His lotus face, yet He repeatedly reveals it, dusted with forest pollen—this vision powerfully awakens loving remembrance and desire for Him in their hearts.

Why do the gopīs call Kṛṣṇa 'vīra' (hero) in the Gopī-gīta?

They address Him as the heroic beloved who conquers their hearts; even a brief glimpse of His beauty and playful forest pastimes makes their love surge, especially during separation.

How can devotees apply the mood of this verse in modern life?

By intentionally remembering Kṛṣṇa’s form and pastimes (smaraṇa) throughout the day—especially at day’s end—one can transform longing and emotion into focused devotional remembrance and prayer.