Shloka 4

Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation

Viraha-bhakti

Devanagari script

न खलु गोपीकानन्दनो भवान् अखिलदेहिनामन्तरात्मद‍ृक् । विखनसार्थितो विश्वगुप्तये सख उदेयिवान् सात्वतां कुले ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

na khalu gopīkā-nandano bhavān akhila-dehinām antarātma-dṛk vikhanasārthito viśva-guptaye sakha udeyivān sātvatāṁ kule

Translation

O friend, You are not truly the son of the gopī Yaśodā; You are the indwelling witness, the Antaryāmī within the hearts of all embodied beings. For the protection of the universe, Brahmā (Vikhanas) prayed for Your descent; thus You have appeared in the Sātvata dynasty.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha/Avyaya (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/surely)

• gopīkā-nandanaḥ: the son of a gopī (Yaśodā’s son)
• gopīkā-nandanaḥ: Pratipādya/Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopīkā (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गोपिकायाः नन्दनः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• bhavān: you
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (honorific pronoun, nominative singular)

• akhila-dehinām: of all embodied beings
• akhila-dehinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अखिलानां देहिनाम्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine genitive plural)

• antarātma-dṛk: the seer of the inner self (indwelling witness)
• antarātma-dṛk: Pratipādaka (विधेय/विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar-ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अन्तरात्मानं द्रष्टा), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• vikhanas-ārthitaḥ: requested by Brahmā (Vikhanas)
• vikhanas-ārthitaḥ: Hetu/Viśeṣaṇa (हेतु/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikhanas (प्रातिपदिक) + ārthita (√arth/arthay, धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विखनसा अर्थितः/प्रार्थितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• viśva-guptaye: for the protection of the world
• viśva-guptaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + gupti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वस्य गुप्तिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine dative singular)

• sakha: O friend
• sakha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine vocative singular)

• udeyivān: has appeared/arisen
• udeyivān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√i (धातु) + इवन् (इवन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (perfective/agentive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular: having arisen/appeared)

• sātvatām: of the Sātvatas (Yādavas)
• sātvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sātvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine genitive plural)

• kule: in the family
• kule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter locative singular)

Purport

The gopīs here imply, “Since You have descended to protect the entire universe, how can You neglect Your own devotees?”

Characters & Entities

• Gopīs
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā (Vikhana)
• Sātvatas/Yadus

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna as the Paramatma (Antaryami)?

This verse declares that Kṛṣṇa is the inner witness (antar-ātma-dṛk) of all embodied beings—present within everyone’s heart, not only in Vraja as the gopīs’ beloved.

Why do the gopīs say Krishna is not only 'Gopī-kānandana'?

In their separation, the gopīs broaden their appeal: Kṛṣṇa is universally the indwelling Lord and protector, so He should also respond to their heartfelt cry, not remain hidden.

Practical application of seeing Krishna as the inner witness in modern life?

Remembering the Lord as the inner witness encourages integrity, steadiness in hardship, and devotion—acting with awareness that the Divine is present within one’s own heart and within all beings.