Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

एवं भगवत: कृष्णाल्लब्धमाना महात्मन: । आत्मानं मेनिरे स्त्रीणां मानिन्यो ह्यधिकं भुवि ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇāl labdha-mānā mahātmanaḥ ātmānaṁ menire strīṇāṁ māninyo hy adhikaṁ bhuvi

Translation

Kerana menerima perhatian istimewa daripada Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, para gopī menjadi bangga akan tuah mereka. Setiap seorang menyangka dirinya wanita terbaik di bumi.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive); एकवचन

• कृष्णात्: from Krishna
• कृष्णात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/ablative); एकवचन

• लब्ध-मानाḥ: having obtained honor
• लब्ध-मानाḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (√लभ् धातु; क्त/भूतकृदन्त) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्रायः) ‘लब्धः मानः येषाम्’; बहुव्रीहि-भावेन विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/nominative); बहुवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive); एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: themselves
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative); एकवचन

• मेनिरे: they considered
• मेनिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive); बहुवचन

• मानिन्यः: the proud women
• मानिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/nominative); बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/बलार्थ (indeed/for)

• अधिकम्: superior/more
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; तुलनार्थ (comparative sense)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/locative); एकवचन

Purport

The gopīs were proud because they had attained as their lover the greatest of all personalities. So in a sense they were proud of Kṛṣṇa. Also, the pride of the gopīs was a pretense created by Kṛṣṇa’s pastime potency in order to intensify their love for Him through separation. In this connection, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes Bharata Muni’s Nāṭyaśāstra: na vinā vipralambhena sambhogaḥ puṣṭim aśnute. “Direct contact is not fully appreciated until separation has been experienced.”

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs

FAQs

Why did the gopīs feel proud in the Rāsa-līlā (Bhagavatam 10.29)?

Because they felt specially favored—receiving Kṛṣṇa’s attention and honor—so they began to think themselves the greatest among women, a subtle rise of māna (pride) even within intense devotion.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29.47?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, describing the inner mood of the gopīs after being honored by Kṛṣṇa.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 10.29.47 for modern devotees?

Spiritual experiences or recognition can inflate ego; this verse reminds devotees to guard against pride and cultivate humility, seeing all grace as Kṛṣṇa’s mercy rather than personal greatness.