Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28

Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation

Devanagari script

श्रूयतां प्रियसन्देशो भवतीनां सुखावह: । यमादायागतो भद्रा अहं भर्तू रहस्कर: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śrūyatāṁ priya-sandeśo bhavatīnāṁ sukhāvahaḥ yam ādāyāgato bhadrā ahaṁ bhartū rahas-karaḥ

Translation

My good ladies, now please hear your beloved’s message, which I, the confidential servant of my master, have come here to bring you.

Synonyms

• śrūyatām: let (it) be heard
• śrūyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; polite injunction ‘let it be heard’

• priya-sandeśaḥ: a dear message
• priya-sandeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + sandeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘dear message’

• bhavatīnām: for you (ladies)
• bhavatīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Recipient relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• sukha-āvahaḥ: bringing happiness
• sukha-āvahaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘bringing happiness’ qualifying sandeśaḥ

• yam: which
• yam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular, Masculine; refers to sandeśam (understood)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having taken’

• āgataḥ: (I) have come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त/PP), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with aham (speaker)

• bhadrāḥ: O auspicious ladies
• bhadrāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; address

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhartuḥ: of the master/husband (Lord)
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• rahas-karaḥ: a confidential messenger
• rahas-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rahas (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘one who does (things) in secret’ / ‘confidential agent’

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs of Vraja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Uddhava bringing Krishna’s message to the gopīs?

This verse shows Uddhava introducing himself as Kṛṣṇa’s confidential messenger, bringing a dear message meant to give solace to the gopīs in their separation.

Why did Uddhava call himself Krishna’s confidential messenger in Canto 10 Chapter 47?

Because Kṛṣṇa entrusted him with intimate, heart-level communication for the Vraja-gopīs, whose love is the most private and exalted form of devotion.

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

When you feel distance from God, transform it into deeper remembrance—hearing, chanting, and sincere prayer—using longing as fuel for steady spiritual practice.