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
Dengan mata yang sedikit berputar seakan mabuk, Śrī Kṛṣṇa tetap menyapa para sahabat yang tulus dengan hormat; Ia mengenakan vanamālā, untaian bunga hutan. Wajah-Nya yang cerah berwarna seperti buah badara, dan kilau anting emas memperindah pipi-Nya yang lembut. Menjelang senja, Penguasa Yadu melangkah anggun bak gajah raja, berwajah riang laksana bulan penguasa malam, lalu membebaskan sapi-sapi Vraja dari panasnya hari.
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.