Shloka 25
Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response
मदविघूर्णितलोचन ईषत्- मानद: स्वसुहृदां वनमाली । बदरपाण्डुवदनो मृदुगण्डं मण्डयन् कनककुण्डललक्ष्म्या ॥ २४ ॥ यदुपतिर्द्विरदराजविहारो यामिनीपतिरिवैष दिनान्ते । मुदितवक्त्र उपयाति दुरन्तं मोचयन् व्रजगवां दिनतापम् ॥ २५ ॥
mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā
With eyes slightly rolling as if in gentle intoxication, Śrī Kṛṣṇa respectfully greets His well-wishing friends, wearing a forest-flower garland. His bright face, tinted like the badara berry, and the splendor of His golden earrings further adorn His tender cheeks. At day’s end the Lord of the Yadus returns with the majestic grace of a royal elephant, His joyful face like the moon, lord of the night, relieving the cows of Vraja from the day’s burning heat.
The word gavām is constructed from the Sanskrit word go, which means “cow” or “senses.” Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by coming back to the village of Vraja, relieved the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the distress their eyes and other senses felt during the day because of being separated from direct contact with Him.
FAQs
They describe His gently rolling eyes from loving exhilaration, His forest garland, His pale, radiant face, and the beauty of His golden earrings adorning His cheeks.
They are absorbed in viraha (separation) and sing about Kṛṣṇa’s form and qualities to keep Him present in their hearts while He is away tending the cows and roaming the forest.
Practice remembrance (smaraṇa) by contemplating Kṛṣṇa’s compassionate, beautiful form—turning longing or stress into focused devotion and inner steadiness.