The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute
Veṇu-gīta
प्रायो बताम्ब विहगा मुनयो वनेऽस्मिन् कृष्णेक्षितं तदुदितं कलवेणुगीतम् । आरुह्य ये द्रुमभुजान् रुचिरप्रवालान् शृण्वन्ति मीलितदृशो विगतान्यवाच: ॥ १४ ॥
prāyo batāmba vihagā munayo vane ’smin kṛṣṇekṣitaṁ tad-uditaṁ kala-veṇu-gītam āruhya ye druma-bhujān rucira-pravālān śṛṇvanti mīlita-dṛśo vigatānya-vācaḥ
Ó mãe, nesta floresta as aves parecem estar no nível dos grandes sábios. Para ver Kṛṣṇa, sobem aos belos ramos das árvores, fecham os olhos e, em silêncio, escutam as doces vibrações de Sua flauta; nenhum outro som as atrai.
The birds resemble sages because they live in the forest, keep their eyes closed, observe silence and remain motionless. Significantly, it is stated here that even great sages become maddened by the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s flute, which is a completely spiritual vibration.
In this verse, the gopīs say that even the birds become silent and absorbed—like sages—when they see Kṛṣṇa and hear the sweet melody of His flute in Vṛndāvana.
Because the birds display qualities associated with realized sages—focused attention, inward absorption, and silence—while listening to Kṛṣṇa’s veṇu-gīta, as if in meditation.
Practice attentive śravaṇa (hearing) of Kṛṣṇa-kathā and kīrtana with fewer distractions—listening until the mind naturally becomes quiet and focused, like the birds described here.