Shloka 5

Gopī-gīta Aftermath: Kṛṣṇa Returns and Explains Divine Non-Reciprocation

Rāsa-līlā Dialogue

Devanagari script

काचिदञ्जलिनागृह्णात्तन्वी ताम्बूलचर्वितम् । एका तदङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिकमलं सन्तप्ता स्तनयोरधात् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

kācid añjalināgṛhṇāt tanvī tāmbūla-carvitam ekā tad-aṅghri-kamalaṁ santaptā stanayor adhāt

Translation

One slender gopī reverently received in her joined palms the tāmbūla He had chewed, and another, burning with longing, placed His lotus feet upon her breasts.

Synonyms

• काचित्: one (gopī)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; indefinite pronoun

• अञ्जलिना: with joined palms
• अञ्जलिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• अगृह्णात्: took/received
• अगृह्णात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तन्वी: the slender one
• तन्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (as epithet)

• ताम्बूल-चर्वितम्: chewed betel
• ताम्बूल-चर्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्वित (कृदन्त; चर्व् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: ताम्बूलं चर्वितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एका: one (gopī)
• एका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कमलम् इति विशेषण

• अङ्घ्रि-कमलम्: the lotus-like foot
• अङ्घ्रि-कमलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: कमलम् इव अङ्घ्रिः (lotus-like foot); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सन्तप्ता: afflicted, burning (with longing)
• सन्तप्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन् + तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; एका इति विशेषण

• स्तनयोः: on (her) breasts
• स्तनयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी द्विवचन; अत्र अधिकरणे सप्तमी (locative dual)

• अधात्: placed
• अधात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving Krishna with intense love (gopī-prema)?

This verse shows the gopīs’ spontaneous, self-forgetful devotion—honoring even Kṛṣṇa’s remnants and longing for the touch of His lotus feet—illustrating the height of loving service (prema-bhakti).

Why did the gopīs accept Krishna’s chewed betel and place His foot on their breasts?

Overwhelmed by reunion and devotion, they expressed intimate reverence and longing: accepting His remnants as sacred and seeking relief from love’s burning by contact with His lotus feet.

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

Cultivate reverence for Kṛṣṇa’s prasāda and remember His lotus feet as the shelter that cools the heart—practicing humility, gratitude, and dedicated service in one’s capacity.