Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 51

Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation

Devanagari script

गत्या ललितयोदारहासलीलावलोकनै: । माध्व्या गिरा हृतधिय: कथं तं विस्मरामहे ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

gatyā lalitayodāra- hāsa-līlāvalokanaiḥ mādhvyā girā hṛta-dhiyaḥ kathaṁ taṁ vismarāma he

Translation

O Uddhava, His graceful gait, His generous smile and playful glances, and His honey-sweet words have stolen our hearts—how could we ever forget Him?

Synonyms

• गत्या: by (his) gait
• गत्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ललित-उदार-हास-लीला-अवलोकनैः: by (his) graceful, open-smiling, playful glances
• ललित-उदार-हास-लीला-अवलोकनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललित + उदार + हास + लीला + अवलोकन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; बहुपद-कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समाससमूहः—‘ललितानि उदारहासलीलावलोकनानि’ (graceful, generous-smiling playful glances)

• माध्व्या: by (his) sweet
• माध्व्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण—गिरा सह

• गिरा: speech/words
• गिरा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हृत-धियः: (we) whose minds are stolen
• हृत-धियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘हृत’ + षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—हृता धियः येषाम् (whose minds are stolen)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थ-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विस्मरामहे: can we forget
• विस्मरामहे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन

• हे: O (dear)
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava
• Gopis of Vraja

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.47.51 say about remembering Krishna?

It teaches that when the heart is fully captivated by Krishna’s beauty, actions, glances, and sweet words, forgetting Him becomes impossible—this is a hallmark of intense prema in separation.

Why do the gopis say they cannot forget Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 47?

Because every detail of Krishna’s Vrindavan presence—His gait, smile, playful dealings, and affectionate looks—has stolen their minds; even separation only deepens remembrance.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

Regularly contemplate Krishna’s qualities and pastimes (śravaṇa–kīrtana), so remembrance becomes natural and heartfelt rather than forced, especially during difficulty or distance.