Shloka 17

अक्रूर-सत्कारः, मथुरायात्रा-विरहः, यमुनातटे दिव्यदर्शनम्, चतुर्व्यूह-नमस्कारः

Devanagari script

भावगर्भस्मितं वाक्यं विलासललिता गतिः नागरीणाम् अतीवैतत् कटाक्षेक्षितम् एव च

Transliteration

bhāvagarbhasmitaṃ vākyaṃ vilāsalalitā gatiḥ nāgarīṇām atīvaitat kaṭākṣekṣitam eva ca

Translation

Their speech is laced with inner meaning and softened by a smile; their movement is graceful with playful elegance—this, indeed, is the mark of refined city-bred women, and so too is their sidelong, glancing gaze.

Word by Word

• भावगर्भस्मितम्: a smile pregnant with emotion
• भावगर्भस्मितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भावेन गर्भितं स्मितम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विलासललिता: graceful with playfulness
• विलासललिता: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलास (प्रातिपदिक) + ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विलासेन ललिता)

• गतिः: movement/gait
• गतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नागरीणाम्: of the city women
• नागरीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (intensifying adverb)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कटाक्षेक्षितम्: sidelong glancing
• कटाक्षेक्षितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षित (इक्ष् धातु-क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कटाक्षेण ईक्षितम् = a glance by sidelong look)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya, general descriptive narration)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: The gopīs’ description of city women underscores the social contrast heightening Vraja’s viraha as Krishna enters Mathurā’s sphere.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Elevation of pure love over worldly refinement by exposing the devotee’s fear of losing the Lord to external charm.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

FAQs

What is the significance of describing refined speech and gait in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse functions as a cultural marker within the narrative, signaling urban refinement and courtly etiquette that often frames royal episodes in the Purana.

How does Sage Parāśara present social characteristics in his narration to Maitreya?

He frequently uses concise descriptive verses to establish setting and character—here, highlighting recognizable traits (speech, gait, glance) to convey a courtly milieu.

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

Even when a verse is socially descriptive, the Vishnu Purana’s broader purpose remains to situate worldly order—culture, kingship, and conduct—within the sovereignty of Vishnu as the sustaining principle.