Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15
Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation
दिवि भुवि च रसायां का: स्त्रियस्तद्दुरापा: कपटरुचिरहासभ्रूविजृम्भस्य या: स्यु: । चरणरज उपास्ते यस्य भूतिर्वयं का अपि च कृपणपक्षे ह्युत्तम:श्लोकशब्द: ॥ १५ ॥
divi bhuvi ca rasāyāṁ kāḥ striyas tad-durāpāḥ kapaṭa-rucira-hāsa-bhrū-vijṛmbhasya yāḥ syuḥ caraṇa-raja upāste yasya bhūtir vayaṁ kā api ca kṛpaṇa-pakṣe hy uttamaḥ-śloka-śabdaḥ
Sa langit, sa lupa, o sa kailaliman, aling babae ang di maaabot Niya? Sa mapanlinlang na kaakit-akit na ngiti at pagtaas ng kilay, napapasakanya ang lahat. Maging si Lakshmi ay sumasamba sa alikabok ng Kanyang mga paa—ano pa tayo? Ngunit para sa mga dukha, may natitira: maaari nilang bigkasin ang Kanyang Pangalan, Uttamaḥśloka.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī states that Rādhārāṇī’s speech, expressing all the feelings of a disappointed lover, indicates an intensity of love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa surpassing even that of the goddess of fortune. While all the gopīs are perfectly compatible with Śrī Kṛṣṇa in terms of their beauty, temperament and so on, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is especially so. In Her forlorn state, Rādhārāṇī indicates to Kṛṣṇa, “You are called Uttamaḥśloka because You are merciful to the wretched and fallen, but if You would be merciful to Me, then You would actually deserve this exalted name.”
FAQs
Bhramara-gītā is the gopīs’ intense speech of love-in-separation (viraha) as they remember Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness and feel the pain of His absence; this verse highlights His irresistible charm and their humble self-assessment before His greatness.
They contrast their own apparent insignificance with Lakṣmī’s exalted devotion, showing that even supreme fortune seeks Kṛṣṇa’s foot-dust—yet they still feel abandoned, intensifying the mood of separation.
It teaches humility and single-pointed longing for God: real bhakti measures itself not by status but by sincere dependence on the Lord’s mercy and remembrance of His lotus feet.