Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17

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

• vrajati: goes
• vrajati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• tena: with him
• tena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular, Masculine/Neuter; 'by/with him'

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• sa-vilāsa: playful
• sa-vilāsa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + vilāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Adverbial use as compound-member qualifying vīkṣaṇa; 'with playfulness'

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

• arpita: offered
• arpita: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arpita (कृदन्त, √arp/√ṛp धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), used in compound-member form 'offered/placed'

• manobhava: love/desire
• manobhava: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (विशेषणाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; in compound-member form; 'mind-born' = Kāma (love)

• vegāḥ: (we) whose rushes of love are stirred by his playful glances
• vegāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; bahuvrīhi over whole compound sa-vilāsa-vīkṣaṇa-arpita-manobhava-vegāḥ = 'we whose surges of love are set in motion by his playful glances'

• kuja-gatim: a confused/crooked course
• kuja-gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuja (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारय 'crooked/errant movement'

• gamitāḥ: led (into)
• gamitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gamita (कृदन्त, √gam धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'having been led' (agreeing with vayam)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• vidāmaḥ: we know
• vidāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural

• kaśmalena: due to bewilderment
• kaśmalena: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaśmala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• kavaram: hair-braid/lock of hair
• kavaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• vasanam: garment
• vasanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle 'or'

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

• Krishna
• Gopis
• Vraja-bhumi (land of Vraja)
• Cows of Vraja

FAQs

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

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s tender lotus feet as adorned with auspicious signs—flag, thunderbolt, lotus, and goad—highlighting His divine beauty and sovereignty even while He walks in Vraja.

Why do the gopīs mention Vraja-bhūmi being relieved from pain?

In their love, the gopīs see Kṛṣṇa as so compassionate that even the earth of Vraja is comforted by His soft lotus feet, despite the cows’ hooves—showing His presence as universally soothing.

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

Meditating on the Lord’s lotus feet cultivates steadiness and tenderness of heart, helping one respond to life’s pressures with devotion, humility, and inner calm.