Shloka 14
Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response
विविधगोपचरणेषु विदग्धो वेणुवाद्य उरुधा निजशिक्षा: । तव सुत: सति यदाधरबिम्बे दत्तवेणुरनयत् स्वरजाती: ॥ १४ ॥ सवनशस्तदुपधार्य सुरेशा: शक्रशर्वपरमेष्ठिपुरोगा: । कवय आनतकन्धरचित्ता: कश्मलं ययुरनिश्चिततत्त्वा: ॥ १५ ॥
vividha-gopa-caraṇeṣu vidagdho veṇu-vādya urudhā nija-śikṣāḥ tava sutaḥ sati yadādhara-bimbe datta-veṇur anayat svara-jātīḥ
O pious mother Yaśodā, your son is expert in every art of the cowherd life, and by His own training He has devised many new styles of flute-playing. When He places the flute upon His bimba-red lips and sends forth the notes of the scale in manifold melodies, Brahmā, Śiva, Indra and the other lords of the devas become bewildered on hearing that sound. Though they are the most learned authorities, they cannot determine its essence, and thus they bow their heads and hearts in reverence.
The words tava sutaḥ sati, “your son, O chaste lady,” clearly indicate that at this point mother Yaśodā is among the young gopīs as they earnestly describe Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, among the demigods led by Śakra (Lord Indra) were Upendra, Agni and Yamarāja, among those led by Śarva (Lord Śiva) were Kātyāyanī, Skanda and Gaṇeśa, and among those led by Parameṣṭhī (Lord Brahmā) were the four Kumāras and Nārada. Thus the best collective intelligence in the universe could not definitively analyze the enchanting musical arrangements of the Supreme Lord.
FAQs
In Venu-gita, the gopīs describe how Krishna places the flute on His bimba-like lips and produces enchanting notes that captivate all beings and intensify devotion.
They address another Vraja woman (a gopī) in affectionate village-style speech, referring to Krishna as “your son,” while actually glorifying Him as the supreme enchanter of Vraja.
Cultivate attentive hearing (śravaṇam): just as the gopīs’ hearts are drawn by Krishna’s flute, regularly hearing and chanting about Krishna can re-center the mind away from distraction and toward devotion.