Shloka 1
Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed
श्रीशुक उवाच श्रुत्वा पृथा सुबलपुत्र्यथ याज्ञसेनी माधव्यथ क्षितिपपत्न्य उत स्वगोप्य: । कृष्णेऽखिलात्मनि हरौ प्रणयानुबन्धं सर्वा विसिस्म्युरलमश्रुकलाकुलाक्ष्य: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca śrutvā pṛthā subala-putry atha yājñasenī mādhavy atha kṣitipa-patnya uta sva-gopyaḥ kṛṣṇe ’khilātmani harau praṇayānubandhaṁ sarvā visismyur alam aśru-kalākulākṣyaḥ
ശ്രീശുകൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അഖിലാത്മാവായ ഹരി ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനോടുള്ള രാജ്ഞിമാരുടെ ഗാഢമായ പ്രണയബന്ധം കേട്ടപ്പോൾ പൃഥാ, ഗാന്ധാരി, ദ്രൗപദി, സുഭദ്ര, മറ്റ് രാജപത്നിമാർ, ഗോപിമാർ എല്ലാവരും അത്യന്തം വിസ്മയിച്ചു; അവരുടെ കണ്ണുകൾ കണ്ണീരാൽ നിറഞ്ഞു।
Draupadī is the chief hearer in this assembly of exalted women, since, as explained by Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, she had asked the question that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens answered by relating their respective stories. Since Gāndhārī and the other ladies named here were not even mentioned in the previous chapter as having been present, Ācārya Śrīdhara concludes that they must have heard the queens’ narrations only secondhand. Indeed, Draupadī would never have spoken so freely in the presence of Pṛthā and Gāndhārī, her elders, or before the gopīs, whose attitude toward the queens of Dvārakā was not particularly sympathetic. Even though the gopīs joined in shedding tears, it was more because of their being reminded of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes than because of any loving affinity between them and the queens.
FAQs
This verse highlights that the gopīs’ bond of intimate love (praṇaya) for Kṛṣṇa is so profound that even great royal ladies like Kuntī, Gāndhārī, and Draupadī are astonished and moved to tears upon hearing of it.
They hear about the extraordinary, unwavering affection directed to Kṛṣṇa—Hari, the Soul of all—and their hearts melt in wonder and devotion, expressed as tearful emotion.
By cultivating steady loving remembrance of Kṛṣṇa—seeing Him as the indwelling Lord of all—and valuing heartfelt devotion over status, learning, or social position.