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Shloka 32

Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation

येनेन्द्रियार्थान् ध्यायेत मृषा स्वप्नवदुत्थित: । तन्निरुन्ध्यादिन्द्रियाणि विनिद्र: प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ ३२ ॥

yenendriyārthān dhyāyeta mṛṣā svapna-vad utthitaḥ tan nirundhyād indriyāṇi vinidraḥ pratyapadyata

Wie jemand, der eben erwacht ist, noch über einen trügerischen Traum nachsinnt, so meditiert man durch den Geist über die Sinnesobjekte, und die Sinne greifen nach ihnen. Darum soll man völlig wach sein, den Geist beherrschen und die Sinne zügeln.

yenaby which
yena:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); 'by which/whereby'
indriya-arthānsense-objects
indriya-arthān:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootindriya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: indriya + artha ('objects of the senses')
dhyāyetaone would meditate on
dhyāyeta:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdhyai (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada
mṛṣāfalsely / in vain
mṛṣā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootmṛṣā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (रीति-अव्यय)
svapna-vatlike a dream
svapna-vat:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsvapna (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
FormComparative indeclinable (उपमा-अव्यय), suffix -vat
utthitaḥarisen / awakened
utthitaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of implied person)
TypeAdjective
Rootud-√sthā (धातु) → utthita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast active participle (क्त/PPP in active sense), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
tatthat (state/thing)
tat:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
nirundhyātshould restrain
nirundhyāt:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootni-√rudh (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
indriyāṇithe senses
indriyāṇi:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootindriya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
vinidraḥfully awake / sleepless
vinidraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootvi-nidra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
pratyapadyatahe attained / he returned (to awareness)
pratyapadyata:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootprati-√pad (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada

The verb pratipad means “to be perceived or restored.” The soul that is vinidra, free from the dreamlike condition of material consciousness, is restored to its constitutional position as an eternal servitor of the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and thus the soul is directly perceived by pure consciousness.

FAQs

This verse states that fixation on sense-objects is false—like a dream after waking—and advises restraining the senses to return to clear, awakened awareness.

In the context of Uddhava’s visit and the gopīs’ intense separation from Kṛṣṇa, the Bhagavatam presents deep instruction on inner awakening—redirecting consciousness away from deceptive sense-fascination toward the soul’s true state.

Treat obsessive sensory cravings as passing “dream-images,” pause before indulgence, and consciously redirect attention through disciplined habits (restraint, reflection, and devotional remembrance) to regain steady clarity.