Shloka 6

The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute

Veṇu-gīta

Devanagari script

इति वेणुरवं राजन् सर्वभूतमनोहरम् । श्रुत्वा व्रजस्त्रिय: सर्वा वर्णयन्त्योऽभिरेभिरे ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

iti veṇu-ravaṁ rājan sarva-bhūta-manoharam śrutvā vraja-striyaḥ sarvā varṇayantyo ’bhirebhire

Translation

โอ้พระราชา เมื่อหญิงสาวแห่งวรชะได้ยินเสียงขลุ่ยของพระกฤษณะอันชวนหลงใหลใจสรรพสัตว์ พวกนางทั้งหมดก็โอบกอดกันและเริ่มพรรณนาถึงเสียงนั้น

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative/particle) — ‘thus’

• वेणु-रवम्: the sound of the flute
• वेणु-रवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेणोः रवः)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• सर्व-भूत-मनोहरम्: charming to all beings
• सर्व-भूत-मनोहरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषां भूतानां मनोहरम्’ (qualifies वेणुरवम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having heard’

• व्रज-स्त्रियः: the women of Vraja
• व्रज-स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्रजस्य स्त्रियः)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (qualifies व्रज-स्त्रियः)

• वर्णयन्त्यः: describing
• वर्णयन्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘describing’

• अभिरेभिरे: they eagerly engaged/began (to speak)
• अभिरेभिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘they embraced/they engaged (in speaking)’—contextually ‘they began to speak with relish’

Purport

The word iti here indicates that after becoming speechless by remembering Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd damsels then regained their composure and were thus able to ecstatically describe the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. As a few gopīs began to exclaim, and the other gopīs realized that they shared the same ecstatic love within their hearts, all of them started embracing one another, overwhelmed with conjugal love for young Kṛṣṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Vraja-gopīs
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s flute sound?

In this verse (10.21.6), Kṛṣṇa’s flute sound is described as “mind-stealing” for all living beings, and it awakens intense loving remembrance and glorification in the gopīs of Vraja.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja as ‘O King’ here?

Śukadeva is narrating Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja pastimes to Parīkṣit; the address “rājan” maintains the disciple–king listener context while emphasizing the importance of what is being described.

Practical application of the gopīs’ response to Krishna’s flute in modern life?

The verse models bhakti as attentive hearing and heartfelt glorification—when something reminds one of Kṛṣṇa, respond by remembering, discussing, and deepening devotion rather than letting the moment pass.