Shloka 27

The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire

Devanagari script

याताबला व्रजं सिद्धा मयेमा रंस्यथा क्षपा: । यदुद्दिश्य व्रतमिदं चेरुरार्यार्चनं सती: ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

yātābalā vrajaṁ siddhā mayemā raṁsyathā kṣapāḥ yad uddiśya vratam idaṁ cerur āryārcanaṁ satīḥ

Translation

Geht nun, Mädchen, und kehrt nach Vraja zurück; euer Wunsch ist erfüllt. In Meiner Gesellschaft werdet ihr die kommenden Nächte genießen—denn darum habt ihr dieses Gelübde gehalten und die Göttin Āryā Kātyāyanī verehrt, o reinen Herzens.

Synonyms

• यात: go
• यात: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle used as imperative-like instruction), बहुवचन स्त्रीलिङ्ग (contextual); sense: ‘go!’/‘having gone’ (here directive)

• अबलाः: O girls
• अबलाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन बहुवचन (vocative plural)

• व्रजम्: to Vraja
• व्रजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; destination as object of motion

• सिद्धाः: fulfilled
• सिद्धाः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (कृदन्त, √सिध्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate ‘fulfilled/successful’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa/Kartṛ (करण/कर्ता-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; refers to ‘nights’

• रंस्यथ: you will enjoy / sport
• रंस्यथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षपाः: nights
• क्षपाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; object of ‘enjoy’

• यत्: which (purpose)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; correlating with ‘इदम्’

• उद्दिश्य: intending
• उद्दिश्य: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having aimed at/with the intention of’

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative adjective qualifying व्रतम्

• चेरुः: they performed / they practiced
• चेरुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आर्या-अर्चनम्: worship of Āryā (the goddess)
• आर्या-अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: आर्यायाः अर्चनम् (worship of Kātyāyanī/Āryā)

• सतीः: the chaste girls
• सतीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis
• Katyayani (Durga)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Kātyāyanī-vrata performed by the gopīs?

This verse states that the gopīs’ vow and worship were successful, and Kṛṣṇa Himself confirms the intended fruit—attaining His association and loving service.

Why did Krishna tell the gopīs to return to Vraja without fear?

Kṛṣṇa reassures them that their spiritual purpose has been achieved and that He will reciprocate with them in future nights, removing anxiety and affirming His protection.

Practical application of performing vows (vrata) in modern life according to this shloka?

Undertake spiritual disciplines with a clear devotional aim—purity, sincerity, and remembrance of Bhagavān—rather than mere ritual, trusting that genuine devotion brings divine reciprocation.