Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 37

Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints

Devanagari script

ततो गत्वा वनोद्देशं द‍ृप्ता केशवमब्रवीत् । न पारयेऽहं चलितुं नय मां यत्र ते मन: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

tato gatvā vanoddeśaṁ dṛptā keśavam abravīt na pāraye ’haṁ calituṁ naya māṁ yatra te manaḥ

Translation

Pagdating sa isang bahagi ng gubat ng Vṛndāvana, ang gopī na puno ng pagmamataas ay nagsabi kay Keśava: “Hindi na ako makalakad pa; buhatin Mo ako kung saan man nais ng Iyong puso.”

Synonyms

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'then/from there')

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• वन-उद्देशम्: to a forest-spot
• वन-उद्देशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('region of the forest')

• दृप्ता: proud
• दृप्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-निष्पन्न विशेषण

• केशवम्: Keśava
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: she said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• पारये: I am able
• पारये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; शक्नोत्यर्थे (able to)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चलितुम्: to move/walk
• चलितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable infinitive)

• नय: lead (me)
• नय: Preraṇa (प्रेरणा/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) एकवचन; 'your'

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam teach about pride in devotion (bhakti) in Canto 10?

This verse shows how spiritual pride can arise even in intimate devotion—one gopī, feeling specially favored, speaks possessively and demands comfort. The narrative warns that māna (pride) disrupts pure, selfless bhakti.

Why did the gopī say “I cannot move—carry me” to Kṛṣṇa?

After being alone with Kṛṣṇa, she became dṛptā (proud) and expected special treatment, asking Him to carry her to wherever He wished. In the storyline, this pride becomes a turning point that leads to Kṛṣṇa’s withdrawal, intensifying her longing and purification.

Practical application: how can I avoid pride in my spiritual practice?

Treat devotion as service rather than entitlement—offer credit to the Lord and His devotees, stay grateful, and watch for thoughts of “I deserve special attention.” Humility keeps bhakti steady and receptive.