Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तासां मुकुन्दो मधुमञ्जुभाषितै- र्गृहीतचित्त: परवान् मनस्व्यपि । कथं पुनर्न: प्रतियास्यतेऽबला ग्राम्या: सलज्जस्मितविभ्रमैर्भ्रमन् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

tāsāṁ mukundo madhu-mañju-bhāṣitair gṛhīta-cittaḥ para-vān manasvy api kathaṁ punar naḥ pratiyāsyate ’balā grāmyāḥ salajja-smita-vibhramair bhraman

Translation

ஓ கோபியரே! நம் முகுந்தன் அறிவாளியும் பெற்றோர்க்கு கீழ்ப்படியும் தன்மையுடையவனும்; ஆனால் மத்துரா பெண்களின் தேன் போன்ற இனிய சொற்கள் அவன் மனத்தைப் பிடித்து, அவர்களின் வெட்கம் கலந்த கவர்ச்சிச் சிரிப்பு-விளையாட்டில் அவன் மயங்கினால், எங்கள் போன்ற எளிய கிராமப் பெண்களிடம் அவன் மீண்டும் எப்படித் திரும்புவான்?

Synonyms

• tāsām: of those (women)
• tāsām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• mukundaḥ: Mukunda (Kṛṣṇa)
• mukundaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukunda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• madhu-mañju-bhāṣitaiḥ: by sweet, charming words
• madhu-mañju-bhāṣitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + mañju (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣita (भाष् धातु → क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Napuṁsaka (bhāṣita), Tṛtīyā (instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: ‘sweet and charming speeches’

• gṛhīta-cittaḥ: whose mind is captivated
• gṛhīta-cittaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (ग्रह् धातु → क्त कृदन्त) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘one whose mind is seized’

• para-vān: subjugated/controlled (by them)
• para-vān: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत् तद्धित)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Ekavacana; ‘under another’s control’

• manasvī: strong-minded
• manasvī: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle) ‘even/also’

• katham: how?
• katham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (interrogative adverb)

• punar: again/back
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• naḥ: to us/us
• naḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dvitīyā (accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana

• pratiyāsyate: will return
• pratiyāsyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-yā (प्रति+या धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (future sense), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• abalāḥ: (we) women
• abalāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Bahuvacana; ‘women’ (lit. weak ones)

• grāmyāḥ: rustic/village (girls)
• grāmyāḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Bahuvacana; qualifies abalāḥ

• sa-lajja-smita-vibhramaiḥ: with coquetries of shy smiles
• sa-lajja-smita-vibhramaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह) + lajjā (प्रातिपदिक) + smita (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga vibhrama, Tṛtīyā (instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘with coquetries consisting of shy smiles’

• bhraman: wandering/roaming
• bhraman: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhram (भ्रम् धातु) → bhramat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (nominative/1st), Ekavacana; agrees with mukundaḥ

Characters & Entities

• Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotion in separation (viraha-bhakti)?

This verse shows the gopīs’ intense viraha: their love is so exclusive that they fear Kṛṣṇa may be drawn elsewhere, and that very longing becomes a powerful form of bhakti.

Why do the gopīs say that Mukunda became ‘dependent’ on their words?

They remember that Kṛṣṇa’s heart responded to their loving speech and affection, making Him appear conquered by their prema—even though He is naturally self-controlled and independent.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Channel longing and emotional intensity into steady remembrance—through japa, kīrtana, and hearing—turning separation or distance into deeper commitment rather than distraction.