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Shloka 16

Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation

Viraha-bhakti

पतिसुतान्वयभ्रातृबान्धवा- नतिविलङ्‌घ्य तेऽन्त्यच्युतागता: । गतिविदस्तवोद्गीतमोहिता: कितव योषित: कस्त्यजेन्निशि ॥ १६ ॥

pati-sutānvaya-bhrātṛ-bāndhavān ativilaṅghya te ’nty acyutāgatāḥ gati-vidas tavodgīta-mohitāḥ kitava yoṣitaḥ kas tyajen niśi

ഹേ അച്യുതാ! ഞങ്ങൾ എന്തിനാണ് വന്നതെന്ന് നീ നന്നായി അറിയുന്നു. നിന്റെ വേണുഗാനത്തിന്റെ ഉച്ചസ്വരത്തിൽ മോഹിതരായി, ഭർത്താക്കന്മാർ, മക്കൾ, വംശം, സഹോദരന്മാർ, ബന്ധുക്കൾ എന്നിവയെല്ലാം മറികടന്ന് ഞങ്ങൾ ഇവിടെ എത്തി. നിനക്കുപോലൊരു ചതിക്കാരനല്ലാതെ, രാത്രിയിൽ വന്ന യുവതികളെ ആരാണ് ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുക?

pati-suta-anvaya-bhrātṛ-bāndhavānhusbands, sons, family, brothers, relatives
pati-suta-anvaya-bhrātṛ-bāndhavān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpati (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक) + anvaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + bāndhava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (husbands, sons, family, brothers, relatives)
ativilaṅghyahaving transgressed
ativilaṅghya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootati + vi-laṅgh (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘having overstepped’
teto you
te:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formचतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन
antinear
anti:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootanti (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb): ‘near’
acyuta-āgatāḥ(O Acyuta,) have come
acyuta-āgatāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootacyuta (प्रातिपदिक) + ā-gam (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त ‘आगत’ = come; सम्बोधनार्थ ‘अच्युत’ (O Acyuta) + ‘आगताः’ (we have come)
gati-vidaḥknowers of (your) ways
gati-vidaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgati (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘gater vidaḥ’ = knowers of (your) ways
tavayour
tava:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
udgīta-mohitāḥenchanted by your singing
udgīta-mohitāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootud-gīta (कृदन्त; ud+gai धातु) + mohita (कृदन्त; muh धातु)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: ‘(your) sung song’ हेतुना ‘mohitāḥ’ = deluded/charmed
kitavaO cheater/gambler
kitava:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootkitava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
yoṣitaḥwomen
yoṣitaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
kaḥwho
kaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
tyajetwould abandon
tyajet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Roottyaj (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
niśiat night
niśi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootniśā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
K
Krishna (Acyuta)
G
Gopis of Vrindavana

FAQs

This verse shows the gopīs declaring that Kṛṣṇa’s divine call overrides even the strongest worldly ties—husband, children, and relatives—revealing the Bhagavata ideal of single-pointed love for Bhagavān.

In intimate devotion, the gopīs speak with loving reproach: His enchanting song draws them irresistibly, and His seeming absence feels like playful “deception,” intensifying their longing (viraha-bhakti).

It points to inner priority: keep duties outwardly, but let the heart be captivated by remembrance of Kṛṣṇa—through nāma-japa, kīrtana, and hearing—so devotion becomes the guiding center of life.