Shloka 18

Gopī-gīta Aftermath: Kṛṣṇa Returns and Explains Divine Non-Reciprocation

Rāsa-līlā Dialogue

Devanagari script

भजन्त्यभजतो ये वै करुणा: पितरौ यथा । धर्मो निरपवादोऽत्र सौहृदं च सुमध्यमा: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

bhajanty abhajato ye vai karuṇāḥ pitarau yathā dharmo nirapavādo ’tra sauhṛdaṁ ca su-madhyamāḥ

Translation

O mga gopī na may payat na baywang, may mga taong naglilingkod nang may bhakti kahit sa hindi tumutugon; sila’y tunay na mahabagin, gaya ng likás na pag-ibig ng mga magulang. Sila ang sumusunod sa dharma na walang kapintasan at mga tunay na mabuting-loob.

Synonyms

• bhajanti: serve/show devotion to
• bhajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• abhajataḥ: of one who does not reciprocate
• abhajataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitival relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a+bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle with negation-prefix (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन): ‘of one who does not serve’

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• karuṇāḥ: compassionate
• karuṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied persons)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pitarau: (like) the two parents
• pitarau: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle/adverb (उपमा-अव्यय): ‘as/like’

• dharmaḥ: duty / righteousness
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirapavādaḥ: blameless
• nirapavādaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of dharmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + apavāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); compound: nir-apavāda = ‘without blame/exception’

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place/context (देश/प्रकरण-अव्यय): ‘here/in this case’

• sauhṛdam: affection
• sauhṛdam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauhṛda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• su-madhyamāḥ: O slender-waisted (gopīs)
• su-madhyamāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: su-madhyamāḥ ‘O slender-waisted ones’

Characters & Entities

• Gopīs
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about loving someone who does not reciprocate?

In this verse, the gopīs praise those who continue to serve with compassion even without reciprocation, calling it blameless dharma and genuine goodwill.

Why do the gopīs compare compassion to that of parents in Bhagavatam 10.32.18?

They highlight unconditional care: just as parents nurture a child without expecting return, pure devotion and friendship remain steady even when the beloved seems unresponsive.

How can I apply the teaching of Bhagavatam 10.32.18 in modern life?

Practice steady service and kindness without keeping score—especially in family, community, and spiritual life—making compassion and integrity the measure of real friendship.