Shloka 2

Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation

Viraha-bhakti

Devanagari script

शरदुदाशये साधुजातसत्- सरसिजोदरश्रीमुषा द‍ृशा । सुरतनाथ तेऽशुल्कदासिका वरद निघ्नतो नेह किं वध: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śarad-udāśaye sādhu-jāta-sat- sarasijodara-śrī-muṣā dṛśā surata-nātha te ’śulka-dāsikā vara-da nighnato neha kiṁ vadhaḥ

Translation

Oh señor del amor, Tu mirada supera la belleza del corazón del loto más perfecto que florece en el estanque otoñal. Oh dador de bendiciones, ¿estás matando a las siervas que se entregaron a Ti libremente, sin precio alguno? ¿No es esto asesinato?

Synonyms

• śarat-udāśaye: in the autumnal reservoir (lake)
• śarat-udāśaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarat (प्रातिपदिक) + udāśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरदि उदाशयः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, locative singular)

• sādhu-jāta-sat: truly well-born/pure
• sādhu-jāta-sat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक) + jāta (√jan, धातु + क्त) + sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासबहुल विशेषण (साधुजातं सत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. singular; qualifying next noun)

• sarasija-udara-śrī-muṣā: with (a glance) that steals the beauty of a lotus-belly
• sarasija-udara-śrī-muṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarasija (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + muṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सरसिजोदरस्य श्रीं मुष्णाति इति/हरणशील), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine instrumental singular; qualifying dṛśā)

• dṛśā: with (your) glance
• dṛśā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, instrumental singular)

• surata-nātha: O lord of love-making
• surata-nātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surata (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुरतस्य नाथः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine vocative singular)

• te: of you/your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive singular)

• aśulka-dāsikā: a maidservant without wages (free servant)
• aśulka-dāsikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक) + dāsikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष-समास (अशुल्का दासिका), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)

• vara-da: O giver of boons
• vara-da: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + da (√dā, धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वरं ददाति), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine vocative singular)

• nighnataḥ: of you (as you) slay
• nighnataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine genitive singular: of you who are killing)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa/Avyaya (देश/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: here/in this matter)

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative pronoun, nominative singular)

• vadhaḥ: killing/slaying
• vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

Purport

In the autumn season, the whorl of the lotus has a special beauty, but that unique loveliness is surpassed by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa’s glance.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis

FAQs

What is the meaning of Bhagavatam 10.31.2 (Gopī-gīta) in simple English?

The gopīs say Kṛṣṇa’s lotus-like glance steals their inner beauty and life, and since they belong to Him as His servants, His abandoning or “killing” them by separation would be unjust.

Why do the gopīs call themselves Krishna’s “unpaid maidservants” in Srimad Bhagavatam?

They express total surrender: they claim no rights, wages, or separate interest—only loving service to Kṛṣṇa—so His neglect feels like fatal cruelty to those fully dependent on Him.

How can the mood of separation (viraha) in the Gopī-gīta be applied in modern life?

It teaches single-pointed remembrance: when devotion feels intense even in absence, one can channel longing into sincere prayer, steady practice, and deeper dependence on the Lord rather than distraction.