Shloka 10
Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints
किं ते कृतं क्षिति तपो बत केशवाङ्घ्रि- स्पर्शोत्सवोत्पुलकिताङ्गरुहैर्विभासि । अप्यङ्घ्रिसम्भव उरुक्रमविक्रमाद् वा आहो वराहवपुष: परिरम्भणेन ॥ १० ॥
kiṁ te kṛtaṁ kṣiti tapo bata keśavāṅghri- sparśotsavotpulakitāṅga-nahair vibhāsi apy aṅghri-sambhava urukrama-vikramād vā āho varāha-vapuṣaḥ parirambhaṇena
O Mutter Erde, welche Askese hast du vollbracht, dass du die Berührung der lotusgleichen Füße des Herrn Keśava erlangtest, sodass dir vor Wonne die Haare zu Berge stehen und du so schön erstrahlst? Geschah dies in Seiner jetzigen Erscheinung, oder als Er dich als Zwerg Vāmana betrat, oder noch früher, als Er dich in der Gestalt Varāhas umarmte?
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains the thoughts of the gopīs as follows: “‘Perhaps the trees and plants [mentioned in the previous verses] did not hear our question because they were in trance, meditating on Lord Viṣṇu. Or perhaps, since they will not tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone, they are hardhearted even though they live in a holy place. Anyway, what is the use of unnecessarily criticizing the residents of a holy place? We cannot tell if they really know where Kṛṣṇa has gone. So let us find someone who definitely knows where He is.’ Thus the gopīs concluded that since Lord Kṛṣṇa had to be somewhere on the earth, the earth herself must know His whereabouts.
FAQs
The verse portrays the Lord’s feet as supremely sanctifying; even the Earth appears spiritually thrilled (as if with horripilation) simply by their touch, highlighting the purifying and bliss-giving power of contact with Kṛṣṇa.
In intense separation, the gopīs see Kṛṣṇa’s presence in everything. Addressing the Earth, they express yearning and wonder—imagining that the Earth has received the fortune of Kṛṣṇa’s foot-touch and thus appears ecstatic.
It encourages cultivating reverence for the Lord’s presence through His feet—practically, by seeking holy contact (darśana, tīrtha, temple worship, and remembrance) and valuing even small connections with bhakti as spiritually transformative.