Shloka 36

Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā

Devanagari script

यर्ह्यम्बुजाक्ष तव पादतलं रमाया दत्तक्षणं क्‍वचिदरण्यजनप्रियस्य । अस्प्राक्ष्म तत्प्रभृति नान्यसमक्षमञ्ज: स्थातुं स्त्वयाभिरमिता बत पारयाम: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

yarhy ambujākṣa tava pāda-talaṁ ramāyā datta-kṣaṇaṁ kvacid araṇya-jana-priyasya asprākṣma tat-prabhṛti nānya-samakṣam añjaḥ sthātuṁs tvayābhiramitā bata pārayāmaḥ

Translation

O lotus-eyed one, the goddess Lakṣmī deems it a festival whenever she touches the soles of Your lotus feet. You are dearly loved by the forest-dwellers, and so we too will touch those lotus feet. From that moment, fully satisfied by You, we will be unable even to stand in the presence of any other man.

Synonyms

• yarhi: when
• yarhi: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yarhi (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• ambuja-akṣa: O lotus-eyed one
• ambuja-akṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambuja (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'he whose eyes are lotus(-like)'

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6), Singular

• pāda-talam: sole of (your) foot
• pāda-talam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'sole of the foot'

• ramāyāḥ: of Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• ramāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6), Singular

• datta-kṣaṇam: (that was) granted for a moment
• datta-kṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (दा-धातु + क्त) + kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; कर्मधारय: 'given moment'

• kvacit: at some time/once
• kvacit: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Indefinite adverb (अनिश्चित-अव्यय)

• araṇya-jana-priyasya: of (you) dear to the forest people
• araṇya-jana-priyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular; tatpurusha: 'dear to the forest-folk'

• asprākṣma: we touched
• asprākṣma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: spṛś (स्पृश्-धातु) with a-
• Form: Luṅ (aorist), 1st person, Plural; parasmaipada; 'we touched'

• tat-prabhṛti: from then on
• tat-prabhṛti: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + prabhṛti (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially: 'from that time onward'

• na: not
• na: Vakyopapadana (वाक्योपपादन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• anya-samakṣam: before others
• anya-samakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + samakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; tatpurusha: 'in the presence of another' (used with sthātum)

• añjaḥ: easily/straightforwardly
• añjaḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: añjas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'straight/easily/at once'

• sthātum: to stand
• sthātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था-धातु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3), Singular

• abhiramitāḥ: delighted/enchanted
• abhiramitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√ram (रम्-धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; agreeing with implied 'vayam'

• bata: alas/indeed
• bata: Vakyopapadana (वाक्योपपादन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bata (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle (विस्मय/खेद-निपात)

• pārayāmaḥ: we can manage/endure
• pārayāmaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pṛ (पॄ/पार्-धातु 'to carry across/complete') causative?; here √pār (पारय)
• Form: Laṭ (present), 1st person, Plural; parasmaipada; 'we are able to manage/complete'

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Lakṣmī (Ramā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs’ inability to live without Kṛṣṇa?

This verse shows the height of gopī-prema: after experiencing even a moment of Kṛṣṇa’s intimate mercy, they cannot tolerate separation and feel unable to continue life normally without him.

Why do the gopīs mention Lakṣmī (Ramā) in this verse?

They emphasize Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position: even Lakṣmī desires the touch of his lotus feet, yet the gopīs received that touch directly—highlighting the unique intimacy of Vraja-bhakti.

How can a modern devotee apply the mood of this shloka in daily life?

By cultivating steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, valuing his association (through nāma-japa, śravaṇam, and sādhus), and recognizing that real fulfillment comes from devotion rather than social approval or external comforts.