Shloka 25
Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response
मदविघूर्णितलोचन ईषत्- मानद: स्वसुहृदां वनमाली । बदरपाण्डुवदनो मृदुगण्डं मण्डयन् कनककुण्डललक्ष्म्या ॥ २४ ॥ यदुपतिर्द्विरदराजविहारो यामिनीपतिरिवैष दिनान्ते । मुदितवक्त्र उपयाति दुरन्तं मोचयन् व्रजगवां दिनतापम् ॥ २५ ॥
mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā
Mit Augen, die sich leicht drehen wie in sanfter Trunkenheit, grüßt Śrī Kṛṣṇa Seine wohlgesinnten Freunde ehrerbietig; Er trägt die Vanamālā, die Waldgirlande. Sein helles Gesicht, von der Farbe der Badara-Frucht, und der Glanz Seiner goldenen Ohrringe schmücken Seine weichen Wangen. Am Abend schreitet der Herr der Yadus mit der Anmut eines königlichen Elefanten, mit heiterem Antlitz wie der Mond, Herr der Nacht, und befreit die Kühe von Vraja von der Hitze des Tages.
The word gavām is constructed from the Sanskrit word go, which means “cow” or “senses.” Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by coming back to the village of Vraja, relieved the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the distress their eyes and other senses felt during the day because of being separated from direct contact with Him.
FAQs
They describe His gently rolling eyes from loving exhilaration, His forest garland, His pale, radiant face, and the beauty of His golden earrings adorning His cheeks.
They are absorbed in viraha (separation) and sing about Kṛṣṇa’s form and qualities to keep Him present in their hearts while He is away tending the cows and roaming the forest.
Practice remembrance (smaraṇa) by contemplating Kṛṣṇa’s compassionate, beautiful form—turning longing or stress into focused devotion and inner steadiness.