Shloka 59
Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation
क्वेमा: स्त्रियो वनचरीर्व्यभिचारदुष्टा: कृष्णे क्व चैष परमात्मनि रूढभाव: । नन्वीश्वरोऽनुभजतोऽविदुषोऽपि साक्षा- च्छ्रेयस्तनोत्यगदराज इवोपयुक्त: ॥ ५९ ॥
kvemāḥ striyo vana-carīr vyabhicāra-duṣṭāḥ kṛṣṇe kva caiṣa paramātmani rūḍha-bhāvaḥ nanv īśvaro ’nubhajato ’viduṣo ’pi sākṣāc chreyas tanoty agada-rāja ivopayuktaḥ
Wie erstaunlich! Diese schlichten Frauen, die im Wald umherziehen und scheinbar durch unziemliches Verhalten befleckt sind, haben die Vollendung reiner Liebe zu Śrī Kṛṣṇa, dem Paramātmā, erlangt. Wahrlich, der Höchste Herr gewährt selbst dem unwissenden Verehrer Segen, so wie das beste Heilmittel wirkt, auch wenn der Einnahmende seine Bestandteile nicht kennt.
The use of the word kva in the first two lines indicates a sharp contrast between apparently incompatible items, in this case the apparently insignificant and even impure position of the gopīs, mentioned in the first line, and their attainment of the highest perfection of life, mentioned in the second. In this regard Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī describes three types of adulterous women. The first is a woman who enjoys both her husband and a lover, being faithful to neither. Both ordinary society and the scriptures condemn this conduct. The second type of adulterous woman is she who abandons her husband to enjoy only with her lover. Society and the scriptures also condemn this behavior, although such a fallen woman may be said to at least have the good quality of dedicating herself to a single man. The last kind of adulterous woman is she who abandons her husband and enjoys in the attitude of being a lover of the Supreme Lord alone. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that although foolish, common people criticize this position, such behavior is commended by those who are wise in spiritual science. Therefore learned members of society and the revealed scriptures praise such single-minded devotion to the Lord. Such was the gopīs’ behavior. Thus the term vyabhicāra-duṣṭāḥ, “corrupted by deviation,” indicates the apparent resemblance between the gopīs’ behavior and that of ordinary adulterous women.
FAQs
It teaches that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, can grant the highest benefit even to those who are not fully qualified or learned—just as a powerful medicine helps simply by being taken.
In intense humility born of separation (viraha), they see their worldly faults and feel astonished that such profound devotion could arise in them for the Paramātmā, Kṛṣṇa.
By consistently taking the “medicine” of bhakti—hearing, chanting, and remembering Kṛṣṇa—trusting that sincere practice itself purifies and brings spiritual good over time.