Shloka 24

Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints

Devanagari script

एवं कृष्णं पृच्छमाना गण्दावनलतास्तरून् । व्यचक्षत वनोद्देशे पदानि परमात्मन: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ pṛcchamānā vrṇdāvana-latās tarūn vyacakṣata vanoddeśe padāni paramātmanaḥ

Translation

就这样，牧女们一边摹仿奎师那的戏游，一边询问弗林达文的藤蔓与树木：至上灵奎师那在何处；她们在林中一隅忽然看见了祂的足迹。

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-अर्थे (adverb of manner)

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• पृच्छमानाः: asking
• पृच्छमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle, शानच्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• वृन्दावन-लताः: the creepers of Vrindavana
• वृन्दावन-लताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्दावन (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृन्दावनस्य लताः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तरून्: trees
• तरून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• व्यचक्षत: they saw/observed
• व्यचक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect, past); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-

• वन-उद्देशे: in a part of the forest
• वन-उद्देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वनस्य उद्देशे); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• पदानि: footprints
• पदानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs
• Paramātmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs searching for Kṛṣṇa in the forest?

It describes the gopīs, overwhelmed by longing, questioning the vines and trees of Vṛndāvana and then discovering Kṛṣṇa’s footprints, which renews their hope and devotion.

Why are Kṛṣṇa’s footprints significant in Canto 10 Chapter 30?

The footprints act as tangible signs of His presence and guidance; for the gopīs, they become devotional ‘evidence’ that leads their hearts and steps toward Him.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

When God feels distant, a seeker can look for His ‘footprints’—small signs of grace, guidance, and remembrance—by staying attentive to sacred places, scripture, and sincere prayer.