Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16

Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response

Devanagari script

निजपदाब्जदलैर्ध्वजवज्र- नीरजाङ्कुशविचित्रललामै: । व्रजभुव: शमयन् खुरतोदं वर्ष्मधुर्यगतिरीडितवेणु: ॥ १६ ॥ व्रजति तेन वयं सविलास- वीक्षणार्पितमनोभववेगा: । कुजगतिं गमिता न विदाम: कश्मलेन कवरं वसनं वा ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

nija-padābja-dalair dhvaja-vajra nīrajāṅkuśa-vicitra-lalāmaiḥ vraja-bhuvaḥ śamayan khura-todaṁ varṣma-dhurya-gatir īḍita-veṇuḥ

Translation

Khi Śrī Kṛṣṇa dạo bước trong Vraja với đôi chân mềm như cánh sen, in trên đất những dấu hiệu kỳ diệu như cờ, chày sét, hoa sen và móc voi, Ngài làm dịu nỗi đau của mặt đất vì bị móng bò giẫm đạp. Vừa thổi cây sáo lừng danh, thân Ngài chuyển động với dáng đi ngọt ngào như voi chúa. Bấy giờ chúng tôi, các gopī, bị ánh nhìn đùa vui của Ngài khuấy dậy cơn sóng ái tình, đứng sững như cây, chẳng hay tóc và y phục mình đang lơi lỏng vì mê say.

Synonyms

• nija: own
• nija: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective used in compound; 'own'

• pada: foot
• pada: Viśeṣya-aṅga (विशेष्याङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; in compound-member form

• abja: lotus
• abja: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; in compound-member form

• dalaiḥ: with the petals of his lotus-feet
• dalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष nija-pada-abja-dalaiḥ = 'with the petals of his lotus-feet'

• dhvaja: banner-mark
• dhvaja: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; in compound-member form (mark on foot)

• vajra: thunderbolt-mark
• vajra: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; in compound-member form

• nīraja: lotus-mark
• nīraja: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; in compound-member form

• aṅkuśa: goad-mark
• aṅkuśa: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; in compound-member form

• vicitra: variegated
• vicitra: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective in compound-member form

• lalāmaiḥ: with variegated emblems (banner, thunderbolt, lotus, goad, etc.)
• lalāmaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; समास: द्वन्द्व (dhvaja-vajra-nīraja-aṅkuśa) + karmadhāraya with vicitra; overall: 'with variegated emblems such as banner, thunderbolt, lotus, goad'

• vraja-bhuvaḥ: the lands of Vraja
• vraja-bhuvaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक) + bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष 'lands of Vraja'

• śamayan: soothing/relieving
• śamayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śam (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with subject (Kṛṣṇa)

• khura-todam: the pain caused by hooves
• khura-todam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khura (प्रातिपदिक) + toda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष 'hoof-prick/pain from hooves'

• varṣma-dhurya-gatiḥ: whose gait is foremost in bodily grace
• varṣma-dhurya-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣman (प्रातिपदिक) + dhurya (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; multi-member tatpurusha/karmadhāraya: 'movement (gati) foremost (dhurya) in bodily grace (varṣma)'

• īḍita-veṇuḥ: he of the celebrated flute
• īḍita-veṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īḍita (कृदन्त, √īḍ धातु) + veṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि 'he whose flute is praised' / 'praised for (his) flute'

Purport

Here mother Yaśodā is no longer in the company of the gopīs, who are confidentially describing their conjugal attraction to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. It is clear from the comments of Jīva Gosvāmī and other ācāryas that the statements in this chapter were made at various times and places. This is natural, since the gopīs were always absorbed in thoughts of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, day and night.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs
• Vraja-bhūmi (the land of Vraja)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the marks on Krishna’s lotus feet?

In this verse, the gopīs describe Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet as bearing auspicious signs—flag, thunderbolt, lotus, and goad—seen as uniquely beautiful and spiritually significant, intensifying their devotion and remembrance.

Why do the gopīs describe Krishna as soothing the land of Vraja?

They poetically portray Kṛṣṇa’s compassionate presence: even the earth of Vraja, pained by the hooves of cows and calves, feels relief as He walks upon her with tender lotus feet—showing how all of Vraja is included in His līlā.

Practical application of remembering Krishna’s lotus feet in modern life?

Contemplating the Lord’s lotus feet cultivates humility, steadiness, and devotion—helping one transform ordinary stress into remembrance and service-mindedness.