Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 30

Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā

Devanagari script

प्रेष्ठं प्रियेतरमिव प्रतिभाषमाणं कृष्णं तदर्थविनिवर्तितसर्वकामा: । नेत्रे विमृज्य रुदितोपहते स्म किञ्चित्- संरम्भगद्गदगिरोऽब्रुवतानुरक्ता: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

preṣṭhaṁ priyetaram iva pratibhāṣamāṇaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ tad-artha-vinivartita-sarva-kāmāḥ netre vimṛjya ruditopahate sma kiñcit saṁrambha-gadgada-giro ’bruvatānuraktāḥ

Translation

Bagaman si Kṛṣṇa ang kanilang minamahal at para sa Kanya’y tinalikuran nila ang lahat ng ibang pagnanasa, nagsalita Siya sa kanila na tila di-kanais-nais. Gayunman, hindi natinag ang kanilang pagkapit sa Kanya. Pinigil nila ang iyak, pinunasan ang mga mata, at nagsimulang magsalita sa nanginginig na tinig dahil sa pag-aalab ng damdamin.

Synonyms

• प्रेष्ठम्: the dearest
• प्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of प्रिय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; superlative: ‘dearest’ (qualifies कृष्णम्)

• प्रिय-इतरम्: as if unfriendly
• प्रिय-इतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘other than dear’ = ‘unfriendly/harsh’ (as if)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• प्रतिभाषमाणम्: speaking (to them)
• प्रतिभाषमाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-भाष् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘speaking/answering’ (qualifies कृष्णम्)

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्-अर्थ-विनिवर्तित-सर्व-कामाः: having restrained all desires for that purpose
• तत्-अर्थ-विनिवर्तित-सर्व-कामाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् + अर्थ + विनिवर्तित (√वृत् क्त) + सर्व + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘whose all desires were turned back for that purpose’ (qualifies गोप्यः)

• नेत्रे: (their) eyes
• नेत्रे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन; Accusative dual: ‘(their) two eyes’

• विमृज्य: having wiped
• विमृज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having wiped’

• रुदित-उपहते: swollen from crying
• रुदित-उपहते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुदित (√रुद् क्त) + उपहत (√हन् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘injured/affected by crying’ (qualifies नेत्रे)

• स्म: then/indeed
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-प्रयोग (narrative particle)

• किञ्चित्: a little
• किञ्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: परिमाणार्थक-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: ‘a little/somewhat’)

• संरम्भ-गद्गद-गिरः: with faltering voices from agitation
• संरम्भ-गद्गद-गिरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरम्भ + गद्गद + गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘having voices stammering from agitation’ (qualifies गोप्यः)

• अब्रुवत: they spoke
• अब्रुवत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they spoke’

• अनुरक्ताः: devoted
• अनुरक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरक्त (√रञ्ज् क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘attached/devoted’ (qualifies गोप्यः)

Purport

The gopīs now replied to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, their voices choking up with anger caused by their intense love for Him and their unwillingness to give Him up. They would not allow Him to reject them.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs giving up all desires for Kṛṣṇa?

This verse states that the gopīs had renounced all other desires solely for Kṛṣṇa’s sake, showing exclusive, single-pointed devotion (ananya-bhakti).

Why did the gopīs speak to Kṛṣṇa as if He were indifferent to them?

After searching for Him in separation, their love intensified into a tender, wounded mood; they replied with affectionate indignation, feeling He had tested or neglected them, though their attachment remained unwavering.

How can I apply the gopīs’ devotion in modern life?

Practice prioritizing devotion over competing wants—reduce distractions, keep steady remembrance (japa, kīrtana, study), and let emotional ups and downs deepen sincerity rather than break commitment.