Shloka 5

Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation

Viraha-bhakti

Devanagari script

विरचिताभयं वृष्णिधूर्य ते चरणमीयुषां संसृतेर्भयात् । करसरोरुहं कान्त कामदं शिरसि धेहि न: श्रीकरग्रहम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

viracitābhayaṁ vṛṣṇi-dhūrya te caraṇam īyuṣāṁ saṁsṛter bhayāt kara-saroruhaṁ kānta kāma-daṁ śirasi dhehi naḥ śrī-kara-graham

Translation

Ô bậc tối thượng trong dòng Vṛṣṇi! Bàn tay như hoa sen của Ngài, tay đang nắm tay Nữ Thần Tài Lộc, ban sự vô úy cho những ai vì sợ luân hồi mà tìm đến chân Ngài. Ôi người yêu dấu, xin đặt bàn tay sen mãn nguyện ấy lên đầu chúng con.

Synonyms

• viracita-abhayam: fearlessness that has been bestowed/arranged
• viracita-abhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viracita (कृदन्त, √rac/रच्) + abhayam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past passive participle used adjectivally + noun; ‘abhaya’ qualified by ‘viracita’

• vṛṣṇi-dhūrya: O leader of the Vṛṣṇis
• vṛṣṇi-dhūrya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + dhūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन to Kṛṣṇa as ‘chief among the Vṛṣṇis’

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun ‘of you/your’

• caraṇam: foot
• caraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• īyuṣām: of those who have approached
• īyuṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √i (इ/गम्-अर्थ) → īyuṣ (कृदन्त, परिपूर्ण/भूतकालिक कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (common), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; perfect active participle ‘of those who have gone/approached’

• saṁsṛteḥ: from worldly existence (saṁsāra)
• saṁsṛteḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṁsṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (Vedic/poetic gen-abl overlap possible); here with bhayāt: ‘from (the) saṁsāra’

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘from fear’

• kara-saroruham: your lotus-hand
• kara-saroruham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + saroruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘lotus of the hand’

• kānta: O beloved
• kānta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• kāma-dam: wish-fulfilling
• kāma-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā/दा ‘to give’)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying kara-saroruha: ‘desire-granting’

• śirasi: on (our) head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dhehi: place
• dhehi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 2nd Person (मध्यम), Singular; Parasmaipada

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Dative (6th/4th; षष्ठी/चतुर्थी), Plural enclitic; here: ‘for us/our’

• śrī-kara-graham: the auspicious hand-hold (hand of fortune)
• śrī-kara-graham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक) + graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘the taking/holding of the hand of Śrī (Lakṣmī)’ i.e., auspicious hand-hold

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis
• Vrsni

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.31.5 teach about taking shelter of Krishna’s lotus feet?

It says Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet create fearlessness for those who approach them, specifically removing the fear born from saṁsāra (repeated birth and death).

Why do the gopīs ask Krishna to place His lotus hand on their heads in the Gopī-gīta?

In loving separation, they beg for His personal touch and blessing—His hand is described as auspicious and “desire-fulfilling,” meaning His presence alone restores their life and joy.

How can this verse be applied in modern life when facing anxiety or fear?

It points to śaraṇāgati: consciously taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa (through prayer, remembrance, and devotion) as the inner source of fearlessness amid worldly uncertainty.