Shloka 21

Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution

Devanagari script

गोप्य: स्फुरत्पुरटकुण्डलकुन्तलत्विड्- गण्डश्रिया सुधितहासनिरीक्षणेन । मानं दधत्य ऋषभस्य जगु: कृतानि पुण्यानि तत्कररुहस्पर्शप्रमोदा: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

gopyaḥ sphurat-puraṭa-kuṇḍala-kuntala-tviḍ- gaṇḍa-śriyā sudhita-hāsa-nirīkṣaṇena mānaṁ dadhatya ṛṣabhasya jaguḥ kṛtāni puṇyāni tat-kara-ruha-sparśa-pramodāḥ

Translation

Mit lächelnden Blicken, versüßt durch die Schönheit ihrer Wangen, den Glanz ihrer Locken und die funkelnden goldenen Ohrringe, ehrten die gopīs ihren Helden; voll Freude über die Berührung Seiner Fingernägel besangen sie die Herrlichkeit Seiner allheilsamen, transzendentalen līlās.

Synonyms

• गोप्यः: the gopīs
• गोप्यः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन

• स्फुरत्-पुरट-कुण्डल-कुन्तल-त्विट्-गण्ड-श्रिया: with the beauty of their cheeks (lit by shining golden earrings and hair-lustre)
• स्फुरत्-पुरट-कुण्डल-कुन्तल-त्विट्-गण्ड-श्रिया: Karaṇa (करण; by/with cheek-beauty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फुरत् (√स्फुर्, वर्तमानकृदन्त) + पुरट (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + कुन्तल (प्रातिपदिक) + त्विट् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain) describing ‘cheek-beauty’ enhanced by: ‘sphurat’ (shining) golden earrings, hair-lustre etc.; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• सुधित-हास-निरीक्षणेन: with a sweet smiling glance
• सुधित-हास-निरीक्षणेन: Karaṇa (करण; by/with a sweet smiling glance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधित (प्रातिपदिक; √सुध्/सुधा? here ‘sweet/nectar-like’) + हास (प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘sweet-smile glance’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मानम्: pride (amorous sulk/self-esteem)
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• दधत्यः: bearing/holding
• दधत्यः: Karta (कर्ता; participial predicate of गोप्यः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; from √धा ‘to hold/bear’

• ऋषभस्य: of the foremost (Lord)
• ऋषभस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; epithet of Kṛṣṇa ‘the bull/foremost’

• जगुः: they sang
• जगुः: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु; √गै ‘to sing’)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृतानि: done/performed
• कृतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying पुण्यानि

• पुण्यानि: pious deeds/merits
• पुण्यानि: Karma (कर्म; object of जगुः—what they sang)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तत्-कर-रुह-स्पर्श-प्रमोदाः: rejoicing from the touch of his lotus-hand
• तत्-कर-रुह-स्पर्श-प्रमोदाः: Karta (कर्ता; appositional/predicative to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + रुह (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sprout/lotus’ used for ‘hand-lotus’) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘his lotus-hand touch joy’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective of गोप्यः

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs praising Kṛṣṇa during Rāsa-līlā?

This verse says the gopīs, exhilarated by Kṛṣṇa’s sweet smile, glance, and the touch of His lotus hand, sang of His auspicious deeds—showing how prema naturally expresses itself as kīrtana (glorification).

Why did the gopīs become proud when Kṛṣṇa looked at them?

Kṛṣṇa’s personal, affectionate glance and nectar-like smile signaled His acceptance of their love; that intimate recognition awakened “māna” (loving pride/self-esteem) within their ecstatic devotion.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Let spiritual joy turn into praise: when you feel even a small touch of grace—through prayer, kīrtana, or remembrance—respond by speaking and singing the Lord’s qualities rather than seeking validation elsewhere.