Shloka 21
Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation
अपि बत मधुपुर्यामार्यपुत्रोऽधुनास्ते स्मरति स पितृगेहान् सौम्य बन्धूंश्च गोपान् । क्वचिदपि स कथा न: किङ्करीणां गृणीते भुजमगुरुसुगन्धं मूर्ध्न्यधास्यत् कदा नु ॥ २१ ॥
api bata madhu-puryām ārya-putro ’dhunāste smarati sa pitṛ-gehān saumya bandhūṁś ca gopān kvacid api sa kathā naḥ kiṅkarīṇāṁ gṛṇīte bhujam aguru-sugandhaṁ mūrdhny adhāsyat kadā nu
Alas, the noble son, Kṛṣṇa, now dwells in Mathurā, the city of Madhu! O gentle Uddhava, does He remember His father’s home and His cowherd friends? Does He ever speak of us, His maidservants? When will He place upon our heads His hand, fragrant with aguru?
The translation and word meanings for this verse are taken from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Ādi 6.68) .
FAQs
This verse shows the gopīs’ intense viraha (separation): they wonder if Kṛṣṇa remembers Vraja and even speaks of them, and they yearn for His affectionate touch as the highest solace.
Uddhava comes as Kṛṣṇa’s messenger from Mathurā; the gopīs pour out their grief and love, asking him whether Kṛṣṇa remembers His father’s home in Vraja and longing for reunion.
By turning longing into remembrance—regularly hearing, chanting, and serving with the mood, “May I never forget the Lord,” even when His presence feels distant.