Shloka 3
Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation
Viraha-bhakti
विषजलाप्ययाद् व्यालराक्षसाद् वर्षमारुताद् वैद्युतानलात् । वृषमयात्मजाद् विश्वतो भया- दृषभ ते वयं रक्षिता मुहु: ॥ ३ ॥
viṣa-jalāpyayād vyāla-rākṣasād varṣa-mārutād vaidyutānalāt vṛṣa-mayātmajād viśvato bhayād ṛṣabha te vayaṁ rakṣitā muhuḥ
హే ఋషభా! నీవు మమ్మల్ని ఎన్నోసార్లు అన్ని విధాల భయాల నుంచి రక్షించావు—విషజలాన్ని త్రాగడం వల్ల, భయంకర వ్యాలరాక్షస అఘుని నుంచి, ఘోర వర్షాల నుంచి, మారుత దానవుని నుంచి, ఇంద్రుని విద్యుత్తు-అగ్ని నుంచి, వృష దానవుని నుంచి, మయదానవుని కుమారుని నుంచి।
Here the gopīs imply, “O Kṛṣṇa, You saved us from so many terrible dangers, so now that we are dying of separation from You, won’t You save us again?” Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the gopīs mention Ariṣṭa and Vyoma because, although Kṛṣṇa had not yet killed these demons, the fact that He would kill them in the future was well known, having been predicted by the sages Garga and Bhāguri at the time of the Lord’s birth.
FAQs
In this verse the gopīs remember that Kṛṣṇa repeatedly saved them from many forms of fear—poisoned water, storms, fire, demons, and other threats—showing His constant guardianship over those devoted to Him.
While singing the Gopī-gīta in separation, they recall Kṛṣṇa’s past acts of protection in Vraja to intensify their longing and to affirm that their lives depend on Him alone.
It teaches remembrance and surrender: instead of panic in adversity, a devotee cultivates faith by recalling prior help, seeing the Divine as protector, and responding with gratitude and deeper bhakti.