Shloka 3
Balarāma Visits Vraja: Consoling the Gopīs and Dragging the Yamunā
चिरं न: पाहि दाशार्ह सानुजो जगदीश्वर: । इत्यारोप्याङ्कमालिङ्ग्य नेत्रै: सिषिचतुर्जलै: ॥ ३ ॥
ciraṁ naḥ pāhi dāśārha sānujo jagad-īśvaraḥ ity āropyāṅkam āliṅgya netraiḥ siṣicatur jalaiḥ
[Nanda dan Yaśodā berdoa:] “Wahai keturunan Daśārha, wahai Tuhan alam semesta, semoga Engkau dan adik-Mu Śrī Kṛṣṇa sentiasa melindungi kami.” Sambil berkata demikian, mereka mengangkat Śrī Balarāma ke riba, memeluk-Nya dan membasahi-Nya dengan air mata.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī comments on this verse as follows: “Nanda and Yaśodā prayed to Śrī Balarāma, ‘May You, along with Your younger brother, protect us.’ Thus they expressed their respect for the fact that He is the elder brother, and they also showed how much they considered Him their own son.”
FAQs
This verse shows the gopis’ intense, protective affection—embracing Kṛṣṇa and weeping—revealing that viraha deepens devotion into total surrender and heartfelt longing.
Their bhakti is so pure that reverence and intimacy coexist: they know He is the Supreme Lord, yet love makes Him their own—held on their laps and drenched in tears.
Bring God closer through sincere prayer and emotional honesty—asking for protection and remembering Him with love, even when feeling distance or longing.