Shloka 16
Chapter 90
नेत्रे निमीलयसि नक्तम् अदृष्ट-बन्धुस् त्वं रोरवीषि करुणं बत चक्रवाकि ।
नेत्रे निमीलयसि नक्तम् अदृष्ट-बन्धुस् त्वं रोरवीषि करुणं बत चक्रवाकि ।
दास्यं गत वयमिवाच्युत-पाद-जुष्टां किं वा स्रजं स्पृहयसि कवरेण वोढुम् ॥
netre nimīlayasi naktam adṛṣṭa-bandhus $ tvaṃ roravīṣi karuṇaṃ bata cakravāki & netre nimīlayasi naktam adṛṣṭa-bandhus $ tvaṃ roravīṣi karuṇaṃ bata cakravāki & dāsyaṃ gata vayam ivācyuta-pāda-juṣṭāṃ % kiṃ vā srajaṃ spṛhayase kavareṇa voḍhum //
Wahai burung cakravākī, pada malam hari engkau memejamkan mata kerana tidak melihat kekasihmu, lalu merintih pilu. Adakah engkau juga—seperti kami yang telah masuk ke dalam khidmat di kaki Acyuta—menginginkan untuk menyemat pada sanggulmu kalungan bunga yang pernah menghiasi Tuhan Yang Tidak Pernah Gagal?
Continuing their devotional “conversation” with birds, the queens address the cakravākī (female cakravāka), famed in Sanskrit literature for longing for her mate when separated at night. The queens compare that natural separation to their own heightened longing for Kṛṣṇa. Yet their emotion is not merely romantic; it is sanctified by dāsya and śaraṇāgati—“we have come to the service of Acyuta’s feet.” The striking image is the garland touched by Kṛṣṇa. For devotees, contact with anything connected to the Lord (His feet, ornaments, garlands, devotees, names, and līlā) becomes supremely desirable. This is Bhāgavata’s theology of prasāda and sambandha: the Lord’s remnants and symbols are not ordinary objects but carriers of His mercy. The queens suggest that even a bird might yearn for such grace. The verse also teaches a practical bhakti principle: longing becomes spiritually fruitful when it is anchored in service. The queens do not seek possession of Kṛṣṇa; they seek the privilege of bearing what has served Him—an emblem of humility and devotion. In this way, the Bhāgavatam elevates human emotion into pure remembrance and loving service to the Supreme Person.
FAQs
Acyuta means “infallible” or “one who never falls”—a name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa emphasizing His unchanging divinity and perfect protection of devotees.
Because anything connected to Kṛṣṇa is spiritually potent; the queens express humility by longing to bear even a garland that has served and touched the Lord.
Channel longing into service: seek opportunities to serve Kṛṣṇa and honor His remnants (prasāda), letting devotion become concrete through seva rather than mere emotion.