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Shloka 2

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

तदोडुराज: ककुभ: करैर्मुखंप्राच्या विलिम्पन्नरुणेन शन्तमै: । स चर्षणीनामुदगाच्छुचो मृजन्प्रिय: प्रियाया इव दीर्घदर्शन: ॥ २ ॥

tadoḍurājaḥ kakubhaḥ karair mukhaṁ prācyā vilimpann aruṇena śantamaiḥ sa carṣaṇīnām udagāc chuco mṛjan priyaḥ priyāyā iva dīrgha-darśanaḥ

അപ്പോൾ ചന്ദ്രൻ ഉദിച്ചു; തന്റെ ശാന്തമായ കിരണങ്ങളുടെ അരുണിമകൊണ്ട് കിഴക്കൻ ദിക്കിന്റെ മുഖം അലങ്കരിച്ചു, അവനെ നോക്കിയവരുടെ ദുഃഖം മായിച്ചു. ദീർഘവിരഹത്തിനു ശേഷം മടങ്ങിയെത്തുന്ന പ്രിയഭർത്താവ് പ്രിയയുടെ മുഖത്ത് കുങ്കുമം ചാർത്തി ശോഭിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ ആ ചന്ദ്രൻ തോന്നി।

tadāthen
tadā:
Kāla (काल)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time
uḍu-rājaḥthe king of stars (the moon)
uḍu-rājaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootuḍu (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘uḍūnām rājā’
kakubhaḥthe directions/quarters
kakubhaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkakubh (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
karaiḥwith (his) rays/hands
karaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootkara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)
mukhamthe face
mukham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
prācyāḥof the eastern (direction)
prācyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootprācī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
vilimpansmearing/anointing
vilimpan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootvi-lip (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; from √lip ‘to smear’ with prefix vi-
aruṇenawith reddish (light)
aruṇena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootaruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
śantamaiḥwith the most gentle/soothing (rays)
śantamaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśantama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); superlative (तमप्)
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun
carṣaṇīnāmof the people/men
carṣaṇīnām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootcarṣaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)
udagātrose up
udagāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootud-gam (धातु)
FormAorist (लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); from √gam with prefix ud-
śucaḥsorrows
śucaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśuc (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
mṛjancleansing/removing
mṛjan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootmṛj (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; from √mṛj ‘to wipe/cleanse’
priyaḥdear
priyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootpriya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
priyāyāḥof (his) beloved
priyāyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootpriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
ivaas if/like
iva:
Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) of comparison
dīrgha-darśanaḥlong-awaited/seen after long time
dīrgha-darśanaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootdīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘dīrghaṃ darśanaṃ yasya/yaḥ’ (long-appearing/long-seen)

Young Kṛṣṇa engaged His internal potency, and she immediately created an exciting atmosphere for conjugal love.

Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
G
Gopīs

FAQs

In this verse, the moon is described as rising gently and soothingly, as if wiping away people’s sorrow—setting a tender, devotional atmosphere for Kṛṣṇa’s nocturnal Vraja pastimes.

Śukadeva uses this poetic comparison to evoke the mood of separation and reunion, mirroring the gopīs’ intense longing that culminates in meeting Kṛṣṇa.

The verse teaches that remembrance of the divine—like the moon’s cooling rise—can calm the mind and soften grief, especially when practiced through steady bhakti (hearing, chanting, and contemplation).