Shloka 35

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

पुष्पबन्धनसंमानकृतमानाम् अपास्य ताम् नन्दगोपसुतो यातो मार्गेणानेन पश्यत

Transliteration

puṣpabandhanasaṃmānakṛtamānām apāsya tām nandagopasuto yāto mārgeṇānena paśyata

Translation

Casting aside her proud sulking—born of being honored with flower garlands and affectionate attentions—the son of Nanda went on by this very path; behold it clearly.

Word by Word

• पुष्पबन्धनसंमानकृतमानाम्: whose honor was shown by flower-garlanding
• पुष्पबन्धनसंमानकृतमानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक) + संमान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'ताम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण—(पुष्पबन्धनेन संमानं कृतं मानं यस्याः)

• अपास्य: having left aside
• अपास्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-√अस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); 'having set aside/left'

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नन्दगोपसुतः: the son of Nandagopa
• नन्दगोपसुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दगोप (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नन्दगोपस्य सुतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यातः: went
• यातः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'gone'

• मार्गेण: by the path
• मार्गेण: Karana (Means/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental)

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'मार्गेण' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पश्यत: see! behold!
• पश्यत: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to enact Vraja-līlā that binds hearts to dharma through love and teaches the supremacy of devotion over ego.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Humility within devotion—overcoming māna (pride/sulking) even amid honor and affection.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even devotional honor can breed māna; the Lord’s līlā gently exposes and dissolves pride, leading the heart back to sincere love.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Notice ego that arises from praise or ‘spiritual status’; return to service (seva) and simplicity rather than clinging to recognition.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord relates personally to devotees, shaping their inner dispositions (saṃskāra) through intimate interaction, not merely abstract command.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Nandagopa-suta)
• Nanda

FAQs

What is the significance of gopī-māna (amorous pride) in the Vishnu Purana?

Here it marks the intensity of personal devotion—emotion becomes a vehicle of bhakti, and Krishna’s movement “by this path” frames separation and pursuit as part of divine lila.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the scene’s emotional dynamic?

By noting that her māna arose from being specially honored, Parāśara highlights how intimate grace can deepen longing; the narrative then turns on Krishna’s deliberate departure, prompting the next devotional action.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Krishna—named as Nanda’s son—acts with complete freedom (svātantrya), showing the Supreme Reality entering human-like relationships while remaining the sovereign Lord whose lila guides devotees toward him.