Shloka 24

The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire

Devanagari script

तासां विज्ञाय भगवान् स्वपादस्पर्शकाम्यया । धृतव्रतानां सङ्कल्पमाह दामोदरोऽबला: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

tāsāṁ vijñāya bhagavān sva-pāda-sparśa-kāmyayā dhṛta-vratānāṁ saṅkalpam āha dāmodaro ’balāḥ

Translation

Understanding the gopīs’ firm resolve in their strict vow, and knowing their longing to touch His lotus feet, the Supreme Lord Dāmodara, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, spoke to them as follows.

Synonyms

• तासाम्: of those (girls)
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having understood/knowing’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• स्व-पाद-स्पर्श-काम्यया: by (their) desire to touch His own feet
• स्व-पाद-स्पर्श-काम्यया: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental of हेतुः/करणम्; समास: स्वस्य पादः (gen.) + पादस्य स्पर्शः (gen.) + स्पर्शस्य काम्या (desire)

• धृत-व्रतानाम्: of the vow-observing (girls)
• धृत-व्रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (कृदन्त, √धृ) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (contextual); ‘of those who have undertaken vows’

• सङ्कल्पम्: the resolve
• सङ्कल्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दामोदरः: Dāmodara
• दामोदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अबलाः: O girls (O weak ones)
• अबलाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा बहुवचन (vocative/nominative plural; address); here vocative sense

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa/Dāmodara)
• Gopīs (Vraja maidens)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attaining Krishna’s lotus feet?

This verse shows that the gopīs’ vow was driven by longing for the touch of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, and Kṛṣṇa, knowing their inner resolve, responds directly—indicating He recognizes sincere devotional intent.

Why did Krishna speak to the gopis after understanding their vow?

Because He perceived their determined intention (saṅkalpa) behind the vrata—devotional longing for Him—so He addressed them in a way that would guide and fulfill the deeper purpose of their devotion.

Practical application of vrata and sankalpa in modern life according to this shloka?

Make spiritual practices purposeful: hold a clear, devotional intention (saṅkalpa) behind discipline (vrata), trusting that sincere inner motivation is seen and supported by the Divine.