Shloka 19

Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution

Devanagari script

कृत्वा तावन्तमात्मानं यावतीर्गोपयोषित: । रेमे स भगवांस्ताभिरात्मारामोऽपि लीलया ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvā tāvantam ātmānaṁ yāvatīr gopa-yoṣitaḥ reme sa bhagavāṁs tābhir ātmārāmo ’pi līlayā

Translation

جتنی گوپیاں تھیں اتنی ہی صورتوں میں اپنے آپ کو پھیلا کر، خودکفیل بھگوان شری کرشن نے بھی اُن کے ساتھ لیلا میں رَس لیا۔

Synonyms

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), from √कृ; ‘having done/made’

• तावन्तम्: that many (as many)
• तावन्तम्: Karma (कर्म; object-complement with आत्मानम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; demonstrative/quantitative adjective ‘so many/that many’

• आत्मानम्: himself (his form)
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• यावतीः: as many as
• यावतीः: Karma (कर्म; object of implied ‘made’—number of forms)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; correl. adjective ‘as many as’

• गोप-योषितः: the cowherd women (gopīs)
• गोप-योषितः: Karma (कर्म; object—gopī-women)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘gopānāṁ yoṣitaḥ’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• रेमे: he sported/enjoyed
• रेमे: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; pronoun

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• ताभिः: with them
• ताभिः: Sahakāraka/Instrument (सह/करण; with them)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• आत्मारामः: self-satisfied (one who delights in the Self)
• आत्मारामः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः आरामः’/‘आत्मनि आरामः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); concessive ‘even/also’

• लीलया: by (his) play
• लीलया: Karaṇa (करण; by/through play)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

Purport

As Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out, it has already been explained that Lord Kṛṣṇa is eternally free from all material desire, perfect on the platform of spiritual self-satisfaction.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis

FAQs

Why did Krishna expand into many forms during the Rasa Lila?

This verse states that Krishna manifested as many forms as there were gopīs so that each gopī could be with Him personally, revealing His supreme, unlimited nature and His intimate reciprocation with pure devotion.

If Krishna is ātmārāma (self-satisfied), why does He engage in Rasa Lila?

Because His activities are līlā—divine play—not driven by need or desire. Even though He is complete in Himself, He joyfully reciprocates with the love of His devotees.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 10.33.19 for modern life?

Cultivate devotion that seeks Krishna’s presence rather than personal gain, and understand that the Divine responds uniquely to each sincere heart while remaining spiritually complete.