Shloka 24

Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response

Devanagari script

मदविघूर्णितलोचन ईषत्- मानद: स्वसुहृदां वनमाली । बदरपाण्डुवदनो मृदुगण्डं मण्डयन् कनककुण्डललक्ष्म्या ॥ २४ ॥ यदुपतिर्द्विरदराजविहारो यामिनीपतिरिवैष दिनान्ते । मुदितवक्त्र उपयाति दुरन्तं मोचयन् व्रजगवां दिनतापम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā

Translation

酔いのように目がかすかに回りつつも、シュリー・クリシュナは善意の友らに丁重に挨拶し、森の花輪ヴァナマーラーを身にまとう。バダラの実の色を帯びた明るい御顔と、黄金の耳飾りの輝きが、柔らかな頬をいっそう美しく飾る。夕べには、ヤドゥ族の主が王象のように優雅に歩み、夜の主たる月のような喜びの御顔で帰り来て、ヴラジャの牛たちを昼の熱から解き放つ。

Synonyms

• mada-vighūrṇita-locanaḥ: with eyes slightly rolling from exhilaration
• mada-vighūrṇita-locanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-ghūrṇita (कृदन्त, घूर्ण्/घूर्णय् धातु) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मदेन विघूर्णिते लोचने यस्य’ (eyes rolling due to exhilaration)

• īṣat: slightly
• īṣat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘slightly’

• māna-daḥ: bestowing honor
• māna-daḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः, कृदन्तः ‘दः/द’ = ‘दाता’ (giver)

• sva-suhṛdām: of his own friends
• sva-suhṛdām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘स्व’ = ‘own’ qualifying ‘friends’

• vana-mālī: wearing a forest garland
• vana-mālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वनमाला यस्य’ (wearer of a forest garland)

• badara-pāṇḍu-vadanaḥ: with a pale face like a jujube fruit
• badara-pāṇḍu-vadanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: badara (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇḍu (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘बदरवत् पाण्डुं वदनं यस्य’

• mṛdu-gaṇḍam: the soft cheek
• mṛdu-gaṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdu (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मृदुः गण्डः’

• maṇḍayan: adorning
• maṇḍayan: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: maṇḍ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘adorning’

• kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā: by the splendor of golden earrings
• kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कनक-कुण्डलस्य लक्ष्म्या’ = ‘by the splendor of golden earrings’

Purport

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.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopīs
• Kṛṣṇa’s friends (suhṛt)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.35.24 describe about Krishna’s appearance?

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.

Why are the gopīs describing Krishna’s ornaments and facial beauty in this chapter?

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.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

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.