Shloka 17
The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute
Veṇu-gīta
पूर्णा: पुलिन्द्य उरुगायपदाब्जराग- श्रीकुङ्कुमेन दयितास्तनमण्डितेन । तद्दर्शनस्मररुजस्तृणरूषितेन लिम्पन्त्य आननकुचेषु जहुस्तदाधिम् ॥ १७ ॥
pūrṇāḥ pulindya urugāya-padābja-rāga śrī-kuṅkumena dayitā-stana-maṇḍitena tad-darśana-smara-rujas tṛṇa-rūṣitena limpantya ānana-kuceṣu jahus tad-ādhim
Die Pulinda-Frauen in Vṛndāvana geraten in sehnsüchtige Erregung, wenn sie das rötliche Kuṅkuma sehen, das vom Glanz der Lotosfüße Urugāyas (Kṛṣṇas) gefärbt ist. Dieses Kuṅkuma schmückte einst die Brüste Seiner Geliebten und haftete am Gras; streichen sie es auf Gesicht und Brust, weicht ihre Unruhe und wird gestillt.
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains this verse as follows: “The wanton aborigine girls also became fully satisfied when they smeared their faces and breasts with the dust of Vṛndāvana, which was reddish from the touch of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. The aborigine girls had very full breasts, and they were also very lusty, but when their lovers felt their breasts, they were not very satisfied. When they came out into the midst of the forest, they saw that while Kṛṣṇa was walking, some of the leaves and creepers of Vṛndāvana had turned reddish from the kuṅkuma powder which fell from His lotus feet. His lotus feet were held by the gopis on their breasts, which were also smeared with kuṅkuma powder, but when Kṛṣṇa travelled in the Vṛndāvana forest with Balarāma and His boy friends, the reddish powder fell on the ground. So the lusty aborigine girls, while looking toward Kṛṣṇa playing His flute, saw the reddish kuṅkuma on the ground and immediately took it and smeared it over their faces and breasts. In this way they became fully satisfied, although they were not satisfied when their lovers touched their breasts. All material lusty desires can be immediately satisfied if one comes in contact with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”
FAQs
It describes how even the Pulinda women in Vraja become spiritually fulfilled by contact with the kuṅkuma colored by Kṛṣṇa’s lotus-feet, and how that remembrance of Him soothes the burning pain of longing.
Pulindas are forest-dwelling tribal people of the Vraja region. This verse highlights that Kṛṣṇa’s grace and the power of bhakti extend beyond social status—anyone can be uplifted by connection to Him.
It teaches that even indirect contact with Kṛṣṇa—through His devotees, His names, and sacred reminders—can calm inner agitation; regularly take shelter of śravaṇa and kīrtana to transform longing and anxiety into devotion.