Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6

Gopī-gīta: The Song of the Gopīs in Separation

Viraha-bhakti

Devanagari script

व्रजजनार्तिहन् वीर योषितां निजजनस्मयध्वंसनस्मित । भज सखे भवत्किङ्करी: स्म नो जलरुहाननं चारु दर्शय ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

vraja-janārti-han vīra yoṣitāṁ nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita bhaja sakhe bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ sma no jalaruhānanaṁ cāru darśaya

Translation

Ô Đấng xóa tan khổ đau của dân Vraja! Ôi vị anh hùng của muôn thiếu nữ! Nụ cười của Ngài phá tan niềm kiêu mạn giả dối của người sùng kính. Hỡi bạn hiền, xin nhận chúng con làm tỳ nữ của Ngài và cho chúng con được thấy gương mặt sen tuyệt mỹ.

Synonyms

• vraja-jana-ārti-han: O destroyer of Vraja’s people’s distress
• vraja-jana-ārti-han: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + ārti (प्रातिपदिक) + han (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √han/हन्)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; bahu-member tatpuruṣa: ‘destroyer of the distress of Vraja people’

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

• yoṣitām: of the women
• yoṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; ‘of women (gopīs)’

• nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita: O smile that shatters the pride of your own folk
• nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + smaya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaṁsana (प्रातिपदिक from √dhvaṁs/ध्वंस्) + smita (कृदन्त from √smi/स्मि ‘to smile’)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; ‘O (you) whose smile destroys the pride of your own people’ (smita as head)

• bhaja: serve/accept (us)
• bhaja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (भज्)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 2nd Person (मध्यम), Singular; Parasmaipada

• sakhe: O friend
• sakhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ: your maidservants
• bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kiṅkarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; ‘your maidservants’

• sma: indeed/just
• sma: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात/भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात); स्म = emphasis/remembering, often with imperative/optative

• naḥ: us
• naḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative/Genitive/Dative enclitic plural; here with bhaja: Accusative (2nd) ‘us’

• jala-ruha-ānanam: (your) lotus-face
• jala-ruha-ānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + ruha (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘lotus-face’ (face like water-born lotus)

• cāru: beautiful
• cāru: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying ānanam

• darśaya: show
• darśaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) causative √darś/दर्शय
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 2nd Person (मध्यम), Singular; Causative (णिच्) Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja-gopīs
• Vraja-jana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs’ longing for Kṛṣṇa in separation (viraha)?

This verse shows viraha-bhakti: the gopīs, overwhelmed by separation, beg Kṛṣṇa to reveal His lotus face again, expressing exclusive dependence on His presence as their life and relief.

Why do the gopīs call Kṛṣṇa “vrajajanārtihan” (destroyer of Vraja’s distress)?

They remember Kṛṣṇa as the protector and solace of Vraja—one who naturally removes devotees’ suffering—so they appeal to that compassionate identity to bring Him back to them.

How can a modern devotee apply the mood of this verse in daily life?

Cultivate heartfelt remembrance and prayer—seeking Kṛṣṇa’s “darśana” through sincere chanting, hearing, and service—especially when feeling spiritual dryness or separation.