Shloka 24
Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response
मदविघूर्णितलोचन ईषत्- मानद: स्वसुहृदां वनमाली । बदरपाण्डुवदनो मृदुगण्डं मण्डयन् कनककुण्डललक्ष्म्या ॥ २४ ॥ यदुपतिर्द्विरदराजविहारो यामिनीपतिरिवैष दिनान्ते । मुदितवक्त्र उपयाति दुरन्तं मोचयन् व्रजगवां दिनतापम् ॥ २५ ॥
mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā
Les yeux roulant légèrement comme sous l’ivresse, Śrī Kṛṣṇa salue avec respect Ses amis bienveillants; Il porte la vanamālā, guirlande de fleurs des bois. Son visage clair, teinté comme le fruit badara, et l’éclat de Ses boucles d’or rehaussent la douceur de Ses joues. Au soir, le Seigneur des Yadus avance avec la grâce d’un éléphant royal, le visage joyeux tel la lune—maîtresse de la nuit—et délivre les vaches de Vraja de l’ardeur du jour.
The word gavām is constructed from the Sanskrit word go, which means “cow” or “senses.” Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by coming back to the village of Vraja, relieved the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the distress their eyes and other senses felt during the day because of being separated from direct contact with Him.
FAQs
It portrays Kṛṣṇa’s enchanting features—His slightly unsteady eyes from loving joy, the forest garland, a pale-golden face, and cheeks beautified by shining golden earrings—seen through the gopīs’ absorbed remembrance.
In separation from Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs relive His presence by vividly recalling His form and gestures; their detailed descriptions are a devotional practice of smaraṇa (remembrance) fueled by viraha-bhakti.
It encourages focused remembrance of the Lord’s form and qualities—regularly meditating on Kṛṣṇa’s līlā and rūpa can deepen affection and steadiness in bhakti even amid daily separation from sacred association.