Shloka 3

Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā

Devanagari script

द‍ृष्ट्वा कुमुद्वन्तमखण्डमण्डलंरमाननाभं नवकुङ्कुमारुणम् । वनं च तत्कोमलगोभी रञ्जितंजगौ कलं वामद‍ृशां मनोहरम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā kumudvantam akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalaṁ ramānanābhaṁ nava-kuṅkumāruṇam vanaṁ ca tat-komala-gobhī rañjitaṁ jagau kalaṁ vāma-dṛśāṁ manoharam

Translation

Kṛṣṇa vit le disque intact de la pleine lune, brillant du rouge d’un vermillon fraîchement posé, tel le visage de Lakṣmī. Il vit aussi les lotus kumuda s’ouvrir et la forêt doucement baignée de clarté. Alors le Seigneur fit chanter sa flûte d’un air suave, ravissant l’esprit des gopīs aux beaux yeux.

Synonyms

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), from √dṛś ‘to see’

• kumud-vantam: lotus-filled
• kumud-vantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (मतुप्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; possessive suffix -vant ‘having lotuses’

• akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalam: with an unbroken disc
• akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; describing ‘maṇḍala’

• ramā-ānanābham: face-bright like Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• ramā-ānanābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ramāyāḥ ānana-ābhaḥ’ (having the luster of Lakṣmī’s face)

• nava-kuṅkuma-aruṇam: reddened with fresh saffron
• nava-kuṅkuma-aruṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṅkuma (प्रातिपदिक) + aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘nava-kuṅkumena aruṇam’

• vanam: the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; demonstrative used adjectivally

• komala-gobhīḥ: by gentle rays
• komala-gobhīḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: komala (प्रातिपदिक) + go (प्रातिपदिक) + bhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural; ‘komalābhiḥ gobhiḥ’ (by soft rays)

• rañjitam: colored
• rañjitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rañj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत/क्त), Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; from √rañj ‘to color’

• jagau: sang
• jagau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; from √gai ‘to sing’

• kalam: sweetly/soft (melody)
• kalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; used adverbially/qualifying the song

• vāma-dṛśām: of the lovely-eyed women
• vāma-dṛśām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural; ‘vāmaḥ dṛś’ = lovely-eyed women

• manoharam: enchanting
• manoharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

Purport

The word jagau in this verse indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa played songs on His flute, as confirmed in text 40 by the words kā stry aṅga te kala-padāyata-veṇu-gītā. The word ramā may indicate not only Lord Viṣṇu’s consort but also Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the original goddess of fortune. Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in the dynasty of the moon-god, and the moon plays a prominent role here in preparing for the Lord’s entrance into the midst of the rāsa dance.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s enchanting song in Rasa Lila?

In 10.29.3, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa singing a gentle, captivating melody in the moonlit forest—music that irresistibly draws the hearts of the Vraja gopīs.

Why is the full moon described as lotus-faced and reddish like kuṅkuma in Bhagavatam 10.29?

The verse uses devotional poetry: the full moon is likened to a beloved’s face and to fresh vermilion, intensifying the romantic, sacred atmosphere that frames Kṛṣṇa’s līlā and the gopīs’ loving response.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It highlights how beauty and sacred sound can elevate the mind: regularly hear and chant Kṛṣṇa’s names and kīrtana to let divine sound attract the heart away from distractions.