Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

उपगीयमान उद्गायन् वनिताशतयूथप: । मालां बिभ्रद्वैजयन्तीं व्यचरन्मण्डयन् वनम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

upagīyamāna udgāyan vanitā-śata-yūthapaḥ mālāṁ bibhrad vaijayantīṁ vyacaran maṇḍayan vanam

Translation

ഗോപികൾ അവനെ പുകഴ്ത്തി പാടുമ്പോൾ, നൂറുകണക്കിന് വനിതകളുടെ നായകനായ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനും ഉച്ചത്തിൽ മറുപാടി പാടി. വൈജയന്തീമാല ധരിച്ചു, അവരിടയിൽ സഞ്ചരിച്ച് വൃന്ദാവനവനം അലങ്കരിച്ചു।

Synonyms

• उपगीयमानः: being sung (praised)
• उपगीयमानः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-गै (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कर्मणि कृदन्त (शानच्/मान) ‘being sung (about)’

• उद्गायन्: singing aloud
• उद्गायन्: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-गै (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle)

• वनिता-शत-यूथपः: the leader of hundreds of women
• वनिता-शत-यूथपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनिता + शत + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वनितानां शतानां यूथपः’ = leader of hundreds of women

• मालाम्: a garland
• मालाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बिभ्रत्: bearing/wearing
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘bearing’

• वैजयन्तीम्: the Vaijayantī (garland)
• वैजयन्तीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैजयन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘Vaijayantī’ (name of a garland) used adjectivally

• व्यचरन्: he wandered
• व्यचरन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; वि-उपसर्ग

• मण्डयन्: adorning
• मण्डयन्: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मण्ड्/मण्डय् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘adorning’

• वनम्: the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Purport

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Lord Kṛṣṇa sang many wonderful melodies and meters, and the gopīs accompanied Him, following His lead. Kṛṣṇa’s singing on this occasion is described in the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa:

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kṛṣṇa beautifying Vṛndāvana during the rāsa-līlā?

This verse says that as Kṛṣṇa moved through the forest wearing the Vaijayantī garland, His very presence adorned and beautified the woodland while the gopīs sang His glories.

Why are the gopīs described as singing and Kṛṣṇa as singing back in Canto 10 Chapter 29?

The verse portrays an intimate exchange of devotion: the gopīs praise Kṛṣṇa through song, and Kṛṣṇa reciprocates by singing, highlighting bhakti as a relationship of loving response.

Practical application of this rāsa-līlā verse in modern life?

It encourages devotees to practice kīrtana and remembrance with the faith that sincere praise of the Lord invites His reciprocation and transforms one’s surroundings and consciousness.