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Shloka 25

Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation

भगवत्युत्तम:श्लोके भवतीभिरनुत्तमा । भक्ति: प्रवर्तिता दिष्‍ट्या मुनीनामपि दुर्लभा ॥ २५ ॥

bhagavaty uttamaḥ-śloke bhavatībhir anuttamā bhaktiḥ pravartitā diṣṭyā munīnām api durlabhā

ഉത്തമശ്ലോകനായ ഭഗവാനിൽ നിങ്ങൾ അതുല്യമായ ശുദ്ധഭക്തിയുടെ മാനദണ്ഡം സ്ഥാപിച്ചു; അത്തരം ഭക്തി മുനിമാർക്കും ദുർലഭമാണ്।

bhagavatiin the Blessed Lord
bhagavati:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Object)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; used as epithet of the Lord
uttamaḥ-ślokein the supremely praised (Lord)
uttamaḥ-śloke:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Qualifier-locative)
TypeNoun
Rootuttama (प्रातिपदिक) + śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘whose praise is supreme’ / ‘supremely praised’
bhavatībhiḥby you (ladies)
bhavatībhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
TypeNoun
Rootbhavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 2nd-person honorific pronoun-like noun ‘you ladies’
anuttamāunsurpassed
anuttamā:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootanuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying bhaktiḥ
bhaktiḥdevotion
bhaktiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
pravartitāhas been awakened/initiated
pravartitā:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate-participle)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√vṛt (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त/PPP), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with bhaktiḥ; passive sense ‘set in motion/caused to arise’
diṣṭyāfortunately / by good luck
diṣṭyā:
Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdiṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyayībhāva usage as adverbial instrumental ‘by good fortune’ (idiomatic)
munīnāmof sages
munīnām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor-Relation)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
apieven
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (अपि/also, even)
durlabhāhard to obtain
durlabhā:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootdurlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying bhaktiḥ

The term pravartitā indicates that the gopīs brought to this world a standard of pure love of God that was previously unknown on the earth. Thus Uddhava congratulates them on their unparalleled contribution to the religious life.

Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
G
Gopīs

FAQs

This verse says the gopīs have awakened incomparable bhakti for Śrī Kṛṣṇa—so rare that even accomplished sages struggle to attain it.

Uddhava came as Kṛṣṇa’s messenger to Vraja and, witnessing the gopīs’ intense, selfless love in separation, he acknowledged it as the highest standard of devotion.

Value sincere, selfless remembrance and service to God over mere scholarship—cultivate steady devotion through hearing, chanting, and serving with love.