Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

किमस्माभिर्वनौकोभिरन्याभिर्वा महात्मन: । श्रीपतेराप्तकामस्य क्रियेतार्थ: कृतात्मन: ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

kim asmābhir vanaukobhir anyābhir vā mahātmanaḥ śrī-pater āpta-kāmasya kriyetārthaḥ kṛtātmanaḥ

Translation

ഞങ്ങൾ വനവാസിനികളോ മറ്റുസ്ത്രീകളോ ആ മഹാത്മാവായ കൃഷ്ണന്റെ ഏത് ഉദ്ദേശം നിറവേറ്റാൻ കഴിയും? അവൻ ശ്രീപതി, ആപ്തകാമൻ; ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നതെല്ലാം സ്വയം നേടുന്നവൻ, സ്വയംപരിപൂർണ്ണൻ।

Synonyms

• kim: what (use)
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम्) सर्वनाम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; idiomatic ‘what (use)?’

• asmābhiḥ: by us/with us
• asmābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) सर्वनाम
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• vana-ukobhiḥ: with (us) forest-dwellers
• vana-ukobhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (वन) + oka (ओक) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वने ओकः येषाम्/वने ओकः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘forest-dwellers’

• anyābhiḥ: with others
• anyābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘with other (women)’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled one
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (महात्मन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• śrī-pateḥ: of the Lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śrī-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (श्री) + pati (पति) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (श्रियाः पतिः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• āpta-kāmasya: of one whose desires are fulfilled
• āpta-kāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpta (आप्त) < āp (आप्) धातु, क्त + kāma (काम) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कामान् आप्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; qualifies śrī-pateḥ

• kriyet: should be done
• kriyet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ) धातु
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• arthaḥ: purpose/need
• arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (अर्थ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kṛta-ātmanaḥ: of the self-controlled/perfected one
• kṛta-ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृत) < kṛ (कृ) धातु, क्त + ātman (आत्मन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आत्मा कृतः/संस्कृतः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; qualifies śrī-pateḥ

Purport

Although the gopīs lamented that Kṛṣṇa was associating with the city women in Mathurā, they now realize that as the absolute Personality of Godhead, He has no need for any women. It is out of His causeless mercy that He awards His association to His loving devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrīpati (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being āptakāma (self-satisfied)?

This verse states that Śrīpati (Kṛṣṇa) is āpta-kāma—complete in Himself, with nothing to gain—so He has no material need to accomplish anything through anyone.

Why did the gopī say this to Uddhava in Canto 10 Chapter 47?

In the mood of separation from Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs express humility and sorrow, questioning why the all-satisfied Lord would ever bother with them, even as Uddhava brings Kṛṣṇa’s message to console them.

Practical application of Krishna being self-satisfied in modern life?

It teaches that devotion is not a “transaction” to fulfill God’s needs; rather, bhakti purifies the devotee, cultivating humility, sincerity, and love without expecting worldly returns.