Shloka 36

Akrūra’s Mission: The Departure from Vraja and the Yamunā Vision of Viṣṇu-Ananta

Devanagari script

यावदालक्ष्यते केतुर्यावद् रेणू रथस्य च । अनुप्रस्थापितात्मानो लेख्यानीवोपलक्षिता: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

yāvad ālakṣyate ketur yāvad reṇū rathasya ca anuprasthāpitātmāno lekhyānīvopalakṣitāḥ

Translation

Устремив ум вслед за Кришной, гопи стояли неподвижно, словно фигуры на картине. Они оставались так, пока был виден флаг на колеснице, и даже пока не исчезла из виду пыль, поднятая её колёсами.

Synonyms

• yāvat: as long as / until
• yāvat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल/परिमाणवाचक-सम्बन्धे (temporal/extent adverb): "as long as"

• ālakṣyate: is perceived / is seen
• ālakṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): "is seen/visible"

• ketuḥ: banner / flag
• ketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• yāvat: as long as / until
• yāvat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), परिमाणवाचक: "as long as"

• reṇuḥ: dust (cloud)
• reṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: reṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• rathasya: of the chariot
• rathasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anuprasthāpita-ātmānaḥ: with minds following after (them)
• anuprasthāpita-ātmānaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu+pra+√sthā (धातु) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्यय (PPP/क्त), बहुवचन, प्रथमा; पुंलिङ्ग (सम्बोधन-समूहः): "whose selves/minds are sent/following after"; समासः: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-भावे)

• lekhyāni: drawings / sketches
• lekhyāni: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lekhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• upalakṣitāḥ: were discernible / appeared
• upalakṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa+√lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्यय (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव: "marked/recognized"

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-vāsīs (residents of Vṛndāvana)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotional separation (viraha-bhakti) in Vraja?

This verse shows that when Kṛṣṇa departs, the Vraja residents’ love is so intense that their hearts follow Him; they remain motionless, as if painted, until even the flag and dust of His chariot disappear.

Why are the Vraja-vāsīs described as looking like painted figures?

Because their minds were fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s departure—overwhelmed by prema—they stood stunned and still, outwardly motionless though inwardly following Him.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

It encourages deep remembrance: even when one feels distance from God, keep the mind and heart “following” through attentive japa, kīrtana, and loving recollection rather than distraction.