Shloka 3
Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation
Viraha-bhakti
विषजलाप्ययाद् व्यालराक्षसाद् वर्षमारुताद् वैद्युतानलात् । वृषमयात्मजाद् विश्वतो भया- दृषभ ते वयं रक्षिता मुहु: ॥ ३ ॥
viṣa-jalāpyayād vyāla-rākṣasād varṣa-mārutād vaidyutānalāt vṛṣa-mayātmajād viśvato bhayād ṛṣabha te vayaṁ rakṣitā muhuḥ
Ôi bậc tối thượng, Ngài đã nhiều lần cứu chúng con khỏi mọi nỗi sợ—khỏi nước độc, khỏi quỷ dữ ăn thịt người Agha, khỏi mưa lớn, khỏi quỷ gió, khỏi lửa sét của Indra, khỏi quỷ bò mộng, và khỏi con trai của Maya Dānava.
Here the gopīs imply, “O Kṛṣṇa, You saved us from so many terrible dangers, so now that we are dying of separation from You, won’t You save us again?” Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the gopīs mention Ariṣṭa and Vyoma because, although Kṛṣṇa had not yet killed these demons, the fact that He would kill them in the future was well known, having been predicted by the sages Garga and Bhāguri at the time of the Lord’s birth.
FAQs
In this verse the gopīs remember that Kṛṣṇa repeatedly saved them from many forms of fear—poisoned water, storms, fire, demons, and other threats—showing His constant guardianship over those devoted to Him.
While singing the Gopī-gīta in separation, they recall Kṛṣṇa’s past acts of protection in Vraja to intensify their longing and to affirm that their lives depend on Him alone.
It teaches remembrance and surrender: instead of panic in adversity, a devotee cultivates faith by recalling prior help, seeing the Divine as protector, and responding with gratitude and deeper bhakti.