Shloka 38

Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त: प्रियामाह स्कन्ध आरुह्यतामिति । ततश्चान्तर्दधे कृष्ण: सा वधूरन्वतप्यत ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

evam uktaḥ priyām āha skandha āruhyatām iti tataś cāntardadhe kṛṣṇaḥ sā vadhūr anvatapyata

Translation

そう言われると、主は愛しい彼女に「私の肩に乗りなさい」とお答えになった。だが言い終えるや否や、クリシュナは姿を消された。愛しい伴侶はたちまち深い悔恨に沈んだ。

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb)

• उक्तः: (he) being addressed/spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रियाम्: to (his) beloved
• प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आह: he said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्कन्धे: on (my) shoulder
• स्कन्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• आरुह्यताम्: climb up
• आरुह्यताम्: Preraṇa (प्रेरणा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; आज्ञार्थ (command)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/देशवाचक अव्यय (then)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्तर्दधे: he disappeared
• अन्तर्दधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वधूः: the bride/young woman
• वधूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अन्वतप्यत: she lamented/suffered
• अन्वतप्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-तप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Purport

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was exhibiting the pride of a beautiful girl who has brought Her boyfriend under control. Thus She told Kṛṣṇa, “Please carry Me wherever You want to go. I can’t walk anymore.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa now disappears from Her sight, intensifying Her ecstatic love more and more.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• a gopī (beloved of Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

Why did Krishna disappear after telling the gopi to climb on His shoulders (Bhagavatam 10.30.38)?

In this līlā, Kṛṣṇa withdraws His visible presence to intensify the gopī’s loving longing (viraha), revealing how pure devotion grows through separation and dependence on Him.

What is the meaning of 'skandha āruhyatām' in this verse?

It means “Please climb upon (My) shoulders,” showing Kṛṣṇa’s intimate, playful dealings with His beloved devotee in Vraja.

How can the teaching of Krishna’s disappearance be applied in modern spiritual life?

When spiritual sweetness feels withdrawn, one can respond by increasing sincere remembrance, prayer, and steady practice—turning absence into deeper commitment rather than discouragement.