Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

श्रीउद्धव उवाच अहो यूयं स्म पूर्णार्था भवत्यो लोकपूजिता: । वासुदेवे भगवति यासामित्यर्पितं मन: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-uddhava uvāca aho yūyaṁ sma pūrṇārthā bhavatyo loka-pūjitāḥ vāsudeve bhagavati yāsām ity arpitaṁ manaḥ

Translation

قال شري أُدّهافا: حقًّا أيتها الغوبيات، إنكنّ كاملات الظفر ومكرّمات في العالم، لأنكنّ قد قدّمتن عقولكنّ على هذا النحو إلى بهاگوان فاسوديفا، الشخصية الإلهية العليا.

Synonyms

• śrī-uddhavaḥ: Śrī Uddhava
• śrī-uddhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• aho: ah!/oh!
• aho: Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle (विस्मय-निपात)

• yūyam: you (all)
• yūyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Second person (मध्यमपुरुषार्थ), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sma: indeed/for sure
• sma: Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/remembering particle (स्म-निपात)

• pūrṇa-arthāḥ: fully accomplished/fulfilled
• pūrṇa-arthāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) understood for bhavatyaḥ; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhavatyaḥ: you ladies
• bhavatyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• loka-pūjitāḥ: worshipped by the world
• loka-pūjitāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjita (कृदन्त; √pūj (धातु), क्त)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) understood; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past passive participle (क्त)

• vāsudeve: in Vāsudeva
• vāsudeve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavati: in the Lord
• bhagavati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāsām: of whom
• yāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• iti: thus/that
• iti: Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• arpitam: offered/surrendered
• arpitam: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arpita (कृदन्त; √arp (धातु), क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with manaḥ; past passive participle (क्त)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

Although other devotees have certainly surrendered their minds unto the Lord, the gopīs are unique in the intensity of their love.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Vasudeva (Krishna)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering the mind to Krishna (Vasudeva)?

In 10.47.23, Uddhava declares that those who fully offer their mind to Vāsudeva become truly fulfilled and worthy of the world’s reverence.

Why did Uddhava praise the gopis as ‘purnartha’ (fully successful)?

Because their consciousness is wholly surrendered to Bhagavān Vāsudeva; Uddhava recognizes their single-pointed love as the highest spiritual attainment.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice steady remembrance by dedicating thoughts and intentions to Kṛṣṇa—through japa, kīrtana, and choosing actions that keep the mind aligned with devotion.