Shloka 40

Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā

Devanagari script

का स्त्र्यङ्ग ते कलपदायतवेणुगीत- सम्मोहितार्यचरितान्न चलेत्त्रिलोक्याम् । त्रैलोक्यसौभगमिदं च निरीक्ष्य रूपं यद् गोद्विजद्रुममृगा: पुलकान्यबिभ्रन् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

kā stry aṅga te kala-padāyata-veṇu-gīta- sammohitārya-caritān na calet tri-lokyām trailokya-saubhagam idaṁ ca nirīkṣya rūpaṁ yad go-dvija-druma-mṛgāḥ pulakāny abibhran

Translation

Hỡi Kṛṣṇa, trong ba cõi, người nữ nào lại không lệch khỏi khuôn phép đạo hạnh khi bị mê hoặc bởi khúc sáo ngọt ngào, ngân dài của Ngài? Dung sắc ấy đem phúc lành cho cả tam giới. Quả thật, ngay cả bò, chim, cây cối và nai cũng nổi gai ốc khi nhìn thấy hình tướng tuyệt mỹ của Ngài.

Synonyms

• kā: what (which) woman
• kā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• strī: woman
• strī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• aṅga: O dear (indeed)
• aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṅga (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधनार्थक-अव्यय (vocative particle)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• kala-padāyata-veṇu-gīta-sammohita-ārya-caritāt: from noble conduct (due to being enchanted by your flute-song)
• kala-padāyata-veṇu-gīta-sammohita-ārya-caritāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kala (प्रातिपदिक) + pada-āyata (प्रातिपदिक) + veṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + sammohita (कृदन्त; √muh) + ārya (प्रातिपदिक) + carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘from noble conduct (being) enchanted by your flute-song with sweet prolonged notes’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• calet: would move/swerve
• calet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cal (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• tri-lokyām: in the three worlds
• tri-lokyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + lokī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-स्वरूपः (‘in the three worlds’)

• trailokya-saubhagam: the beauty/fortune of the three worlds
• trailokya-saubhagam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trailokya (प्रातिपदिक) + saubhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual; here as predicate/accusative with nirīkṣya), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘fortune/beauty of the three worlds’)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nirīkṣya: having seen
• nirīkṣya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) — ‘having seen’

• rūpam: form/beauty
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular) — यद्-तद् सम्बन्ध

• go-dvija-druma-mṛgāḥ: cows, birds, trees, and deer
• go-dvija-druma-mṛgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (cows, twice-born/birds, trees, deer)

• pulakāni: horripilations (goosebumps)
• pulakāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• abibhran: bore/displayed
• abibhran: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis of Vraja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Krishna’s flute?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa’s flute-song is so sweet and compelling that it stirs every heart—even those committed to strict noble conduct—drawing all beings toward Him.

Why do the gopīs describe even cows, birds, trees, and deer getting goosebumps?

They are emphasizing that Kṛṣṇa’s beauty and presence are universally spiritual: not only humans, but all of Vraja’s living beings respond with ecstatic symptoms when they see Him.

How can a modern devotee apply this teaching in daily life?

By intentionally hearing and remembering Kṛṣṇa—especially through nāma-kīrtana and attentive listening—one gradually redirects the mind from worldly attraction to a higher, purifying attraction for the Divine.