Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

सिञ्चाङ्ग नस्त्वदधरामृतपूरकेण हासावलोककलगीतजहृच्छयाग्निम् । नो चेद्वयं विरहजाग्न्युपयुक्तदेहा ध्यानेन याम पदयो: पदवीं सखे ते ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

siñcāṅga nas tvad-adharāmṛta-pūrakeṇa hāsāvaloka-kala-gīta-ja-hṛc-chayāgnim no ced vayaṁ virahajāgny-upayukta-dehā dhyānena yāma padayoḥ padavīṁ sakhe te

Translation

Ô ami Kṛṣṇa, répands sur nous le nectar de Tes lèvres et éteins le feu du désir dans nos cœurs, feu que Tu as allumé par Tes sourires, Tes regards et le doux chant de Ta flûte. Sinon, nous livrerons ce corps au feu de la séparation et, tels des yogis, atteindrons par la méditation la demeure de Tes pieds de lotus.

Synonyms

• siñca: sprinkle
• siñca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sic (सिच्-धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), 2nd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• aṅga: O dear
• aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṅga (अव्यय/सम्बोधन)
• Form: Particle of address (सम्बोधनार्थक-अव्यय)

• naḥ: us
• naḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Accusative/Genitive (2/6), Plural; enclitic; here object

• tvad-adhara-amṛta-pūrakeṇa: with the nectar-flow from your lips
• tvad-adhara-amṛta-pūrakeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम) + adhara (प्रातिपदिक) + amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + pūraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3), Singular; multi-member tatpurusha: 'with the filling (stream) of nectar from your lips'

• hāsa-avaloka-kala-gīta-ja-hṛt-śaya-agnim: the heart's love-fire (aroused by your smile, glance, sweet song)
• hāsa-avaloka-kala-gīta-ja-hṛt-śaya-agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + avaloka (प्रातिपदिक) + kala (प्रातिपदिक) + gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + śaya (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; long tatpurusha: 'the fire of Cupid in the heart, born of (your) smile, glance, and sweet song'

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Genitive (6), Plural; enclitic

• cet: if
• cet: Vakyopapadana (वाक्योपपादन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (यदि-अर्थक)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Nominative (1), Plural

• viraha-ja-agni-upayukta-dehāḥ: with bodies consumed by separation-fire
• viraha-ja-agni-upayukta-dehāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viraha (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + upayukta (उप-√yuj् + क्त) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; tatpurusha: 'having bodies consumed by the fire born of separation'

• dhyānena: by meditation
• dhyānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3), Singular

• yāma: we go
• yāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या-धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), 1st person, Plural; parasmaipada

• padayoḥ: of (your) two feet
• padayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6), Dual

• padavīm: path/attainment
• padavīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2), Singular

• sakhe: O friend
• sakhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun, Genitive (6), Singular; enclitic

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about viraha (separation) from Krishna?

This verse shows viraha as an intense spiritual longing: the gopīs feel a burning separation that can only be cooled by Kṛṣṇa’s presence—His smile, glance, and sweet words—and they even speak of reaching His feet through meditation if He does not reciprocate.

Why did the gopis ask Krishna for the nectar of His lips?

In the rāsa context, their request expresses exclusive devotion and emotional dependence on Kṛṣṇa: His affectionate exchange alone can extinguish the inner “fire” of longing created by His sudden appearance and apparent distance.

Practical application of viraha-bhakti in modern life?

Channel feelings of absence into remembrance: steady japa, kīrtana, and meditation on Kṛṣṇa’s qualities—like His compassion and sweetness—turn emotional intensity into focused devotion rather than distraction.