Shloka 3
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
आप्लुत्याम्भसि कालिन्द्या जलान्ते चोदितेऽरुणे । कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं देवीमानर्चुर्नृप सैकतीम् ॥ २ ॥ गन्धैर्माल्यै: सुरभिभिर्बलिभिर्धूपदीपकै: । उच्चावचैश्चोपहारै: प्रवालफलतण्डुलै: ॥ ३ ॥
āplutyāmbhasi kālindyā jalānte codite ’ruṇe kṛtvā pratikṛtiṁ devīm ānarcur nṛpa saikatīm
اے بادشاہ، سورج نکلتے وقت کالندی (یمنا) کے پانی میں غسل کرکے گوپیوں نے دریا کے کنارے ریت پر دیوی درگا کی مٹی کی مورتی بنائی اور اس کی پوجا کی۔ انہوں نے چندن وغیرہ خوشبوئیں، پھولوں کی مالائیں، نذرانہ، دھوپ دیپ اور پھل، پان سپاری، نئے پتے اور چاول وغیرہ طرح طرح کے تحفے چڑھائے۔
The word balibhiḥ in this verse indicates offerings of clothing, ornaments, food and so on.
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 22, the Bhagavatam describes the gopīs bathing in the Yamunā at dawn and worshiping an image of Goddess Kātyāyanī, performing a vow with the intention of attaining Śrī Kṛṣṇa as their beloved.
Śukadeva narrates how the gopīs expressed single-minded devotion through a simple, heartfelt ritual—fashioning a deity from sand on the riverbank—showing that sincerity in bhakti is central, not external opulence.
Begin spiritual practice with purity and regularity—like early-morning remembrance, bathing, and focused prayer—keeping the heart’s intention sincere even if resources are simple.