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Shloka 30

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

प्रेष्ठं प्रियेतरमिव प्रतिभाषमाणं कृष्णं तदर्थविनिवर्तितसर्वकामा: । नेत्रे विमृज्य रुदितोपहते स्म किञ्चित्- संरम्भगद्गदगिरोऽब्रुवतानुरक्ता: ॥ ३० ॥

preṣṭhaṁ priyetaram iva pratibhāṣamāṇaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ tad-artha-vinivartita-sarva-kāmāḥ netre vimṛjya ruditopahate sma kiñcit saṁrambha-gadgada-giro ’bruvatānuraktāḥ

കൃഷ്ണൻ അവർക്കെത്രയും പ്രിയൻ; അവനുവേണ്ടി അവർ മറ്റു എല്ലാ ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളും ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്നു. എന്നിട്ടും അവൻ അവരോട് അനുകൂലമല്ലാതെ സംസാരിച്ചു. എങ്കിലും അവനോടുള്ള അവരുടെ അനുരാഗം കുലുങ്ങിയില്ല. അവർ കരച്ചിൽ നിർത്തി കണ്ണുകൾ തുടച്ച്, അല്പം ആവേശത്തോടെ ഗദ്ഗദസ്വരത്തിൽ സംസാരിച്ചു തുടങ്ങി.

प्रेष्ठम्the dearest
प्रेष्ठम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of प्रिय)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; superlative: ‘dearest’ (qualifies कृष्णम्)
प्रिय-इतरम्as if unfriendly
प्रिय-इतरम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रिय + इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘other than dear’ = ‘unfriendly/harsh’ (as if)
इवas if
इव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमानार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)
प्रतिभाषमाणम्speaking (to them)
प्रतिभाषमाणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-भाष् (धातु)
Formशानच्-प्रत्यय (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘speaking/answering’ (qualifies कृष्णम्)
कृष्णम्Kṛṣṇa
कृष्णम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन
तत्-अर्थ-विनिवर्तित-सर्व-कामाःhaving restrained all desires for that purpose
तत्-अर्थ-विनिवर्तित-सर्व-कामाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootतत् + अर्थ + विनिवर्तित (√वृत् क्त) + सर्व + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘whose all desires were turned back for that purpose’ (qualifies गोप्यः)
नेत्रे(their) eyes
नेत्रे:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन; Accusative dual: ‘(their) two eyes’
विमृज्यhaving wiped
विमृज्य:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√मृज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having wiped’
रुदित-उपहतेswollen from crying
रुदित-उपहते:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootरुदित (√रुद् क्त) + उपहत (√हन् क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘injured/affected by crying’ (qualifies नेत्रे)
स्मthen/indeed
स्म:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्म (अव्यय)
Formस्म-प्रयोग (narrative particle)
किञ्चित्a little
किञ्चित्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकिञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
Formपरिमाणार्थक-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: ‘a little/somewhat’)
संरम्भ-गद्गद-गिरःwith faltering voices from agitation
संरम्भ-गद्गद-गिरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootसंरम्भ + गद्गद + गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘having voices stammering from agitation’ (qualifies गोप्यः)
अब्रुवतthey spoke
अब्रुवत:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they spoke’
अनुरक्ताःdevoted
अनुरक्ताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुरक्त (√रञ्ज् क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘attached/devoted’ (qualifies गोप्यः)

The gopīs now replied to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, their voices choking up with anger caused by their intense love for Him and their unwillingness to give Him up. They would not allow Him to reject them.

K
Kṛṣṇa
V
Vraja-gopīs

FAQs

This verse states that the gopīs had renounced all other desires solely for Kṛṣṇa’s sake, showing exclusive, single-pointed devotion (ananya-bhakti).

After searching for Him in separation, their love intensified into a tender, wounded mood; they replied with affectionate indignation, feeling He had tested or neglected them, though their attachment remained unwavering.

Practice prioritizing devotion over competing wants—reduce distractions, keep steady remembrance (japa, kīrtana, study), and let emotional ups and downs deepen sincerity rather than break commitment.