Shloka 25

Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints

Devanagari script

पदानि व्यक्तमेतानि नन्दसूनोर्महात्मन: । लक्ष्यन्ते हि ध्वजाम्भोजवज्राङ्कुशयवादिभि: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

padāni vyaktam etāni nanda-sūnor mahātmanaḥ lakṣyante hi dhvajāmbhoja- vajrāṅkuśa-yavādibhiḥ

Translation

[Die gopīs sagten:] Diese Fußspuren gehören eindeutig der großen Seele, dem Sohn Nandas, denn man erkennt darauf die Zeichen von Fahne, Lotus, Vajra, Elefantenhaken, Gerstenkorn und andere.

Synonyms

• पदानि: footprints
• पदानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• व्यक्तम्: clearly
• व्यक्तम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत्; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial use: clearly)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Visheshya (विशेष्य/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नन्द-सूनोः: of Nanda's son
• नन्द-सूनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्दस्य सूनुः); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great soul
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लक्ष्यन्ते: are recognized
• लक्ष्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: are seen/recognized)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• ध्वज-अम्भोज-वज्र-अङ्कुश-यव-आदिभिः: by (marks such as) flag, lotus, thunderbolt, goad, barley, etc.
• ध्वज-अम्भोज-वज्र-अङ्कुश-यव-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक) + वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + यव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/सूची-समास (enumerative compound) + आदि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समाहारार्थे; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, in his commentary on this verse, gives the following scriptural information about the symbolic markings on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa:

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Nanda

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the marks on Krishna’s feet (charana chihna)?

In this verse (10.30.25), Kṛṣṇa’s footprints are identified by auspicious symbols like the flag, lotus, thunderbolt, goad, and barley-grain—marks that reveal His divine identity to the devotees.

Why were the gopīs looking for Krishna’s footprints in Canto 10 Chapter 30?

Because Kṛṣṇa had disappeared from the rāsa dance, the gopīs searched the forest for Him, and His distinct footprints became their guide and their meditation in separation (viraha).

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

Like the gopīs who followed Kṛṣṇa’s footprints with single-minded love, devotees can “follow His footsteps” by remembering Him, seeking His presence through bhakti practices, and letting divine remembrance guide their choices.