Shloka 21

Uddhava Sent to Vraja: Consolation to Nanda-Yaśodā and the Gopīs’ Separation

Devanagari script

स्मरतां कृष्णवीर्याणि लीलापाङ्गनिरीक्षितम् । हसितं भाषितं चाङ्ग सर्वा न: शिथिला: क्रिया: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

smaratāṁ kṛṣṇa-vīryāṇi līlāpāṅga-nirīkṣitam hasitaṁ bhāṣitaṁ cāṅga sarvā naḥ śithilāḥ kriyāḥ

Translation

Hỡi Uddhava, khi chúng ta nhớ đến những kỳ công của Kṛṣṇa—ánh nhìn nghiêng đùa vui, nụ cười và lời nói của Ngài—mọi bận rộn thế gian của chúng ta đều trở nên lỏng rời, quên hết.

Synonyms

• स्मरताम्: of those who remember (of us remembering)
• स्मरताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive absolute-like)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle) ‘स्मरन्त्’; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of (us) remembering’

• कृष्ण-वीर्याणि: Krishna’s heroic deeds/powers
• कृष्ण-वीर्याणि: Karma (कर्म/object of remembering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘कृष्णस्य वीर्याणि’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• लीला-पाङ्ग-निरीक्षितम्: his playful sidelong glance
• लीला-पाङ्ग-निरीक्षितम्: Karma (कर्म/object of remembering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + अपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षित (नि + ईक्ष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative) ‘लीलया अपाङ्गेन निरीक्षितम्’; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used substantively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हसितम्: his laughter/smile
• हसितम्: Karma (कर्म/object of remembering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used as noun; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भाषितम्: his speech/words
• भाषितम्: Karma (कर्म/object of remembering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used as noun; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक conjunction

• अङ्ग: O dear (friend)
• अङ्ग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अङ्ग (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संबोधन/अनुनयार्थ particle (vocative-like)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियाः-विशेषण

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; enclitic

• शिथिलाः: slack/loosened
• शिथिलाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिथिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियाः-विशेषण

• क्रियाः: activities/actions
• क्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Krishna in separation (viraha)?

This verse shows that intense remembrance of Krishna—His deeds, glances, smiles, and words—overpowers ordinary worldly motivation, making all routine activities feel weakened and secondary.

Why did the gopīs say this to Uddhava in Canto 10 Chapter 46?

Uddhava came as Krishna’s messenger to console the Vraja devotees; the gopīs reveal their state of unwavering absorption in Krishna, explaining that memory of Him leaves them unable to engage normally in daily life.

Practical application of Krishna-smaraṇa (remembrance) in modern life?

Regularly remember Krishna through kīrtana, japa, and reading His līlās; over time, this reshapes priorities so that distractions loosen their grip and devotion becomes the heart of one’s day.