Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 45

Uddhava Sent to Vraja: Consolation to Nanda-Yaśodā and the Gopīs’ Separation

Devanagari script

ता दीपदीप्तैर्मणिभिर्विरेजू रज्जूर्विकर्षद्भ‍ुजकङ्कणस्रज: । चलन्नितम्बस्तनहारकुण्डल- त्विषत्कपोलारुणकुङ्कुमानना: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

tā dīpa-dīptair maṇibhir virejū rajjūr vikarṣad-bhuja-kaṅkaṇa-srajaḥ calan-nitamba-stana-hāra-kuṇḍala- tviṣat-kapolāruṇa-kuṅkumānanāḥ

Translation

Pulling the churning ropes with arms adorned by bangles, the women of Vraja shone as their jewels caught the lamplight. Their hips, breasts, necklaces and earrings swayed, and their faces, anointed with reddish kuṅkuma, glowed with the reflected luster of their earrings upon their cheeks.

Synonyms

• tāḥ: they (the gopīs)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम—‘they (those women)’

• dīpa-dīptaiḥ: by lamp-illuminated
• dīpa-dīptaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpa + dīpta (प्रातिपदिक; dīpta from dīp (धातु) PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘lamp-lit’ qualifying maṇibhiḥ

• maṇibhiḥ: with jewels
• maṇibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• virejūḥ: they shone
• virejūḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + rāj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन

• rajjūḥ: (with) ropes
• rajjūḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajjū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vikarṣat-bhuja-kaṅkaṇa-srajaḥ: with arm-bracelet garlands being tugged
• vikarṣat-bhuja-kaṅkaṇa-srajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + kṛṣ (धातु) → vikarṣat (वर्तमानकृदन्त) + bhuja + kaṅkaṇa + sraj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘having arm-bracelet-garlands being pulled/dragged’ (vikarṣat = pres. part.) qualifying tāḥ

• calat-nitamba-stana-hāra-kuṇḍala: with moving hips, breasts, necklaces, earrings
• calat-nitamba-stana-hāra-kuṇḍala: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: calat (चल् धातु, वर्तमानकृदन्त) + nitamba + stana + hāra + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member) used with next word; ‘with moving hips, breasts, necklaces, earrings’—descriptive multi-member tatpuruṣa

• tviṣat-kapola-aruṇa-kuṅkuma-ānanāḥ: whose faces shone with red kuṅkuma on their cheeks
• tviṣat-kapola-aruṇa-kuṅkuma-ānanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tviṣat (tviṣ धातु, वर्तमानकृदन्त) + kapola + aruṇa + kuṅkuma + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose faces are shining with red kuṅkuma on the cheeks’

Characters & Entities

• Gopīs (Vraja-devīs)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.46.45 describe about the gopīs?

It poetically describes the gopīs’ radiant beauty and movement as they pull ropes, emphasizing their natural splendor in Vraja and the devotional mood surrounding Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 10.46 and why is this scene described?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates to Mahārāja Parīkṣit. The scene sets the emotional and devotional atmosphere of Vṛndāvana as Uddhava witnesses the gopīs’ intense love and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.

What is the practical application of this verse for modern devotees?

It teaches attentive remembrance: even ordinary actions can become devotion when the heart is absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, cultivating steadiness, purity of mind, and loving focus in daily life.