Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

कस्या: पदानि चैतानि याताया नन्दसूनुना । अंसन्यस्तप्रकोष्ठाया: करेणो: करिणा यथा ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

kasyāḥ padāni caitāni yātāyā nanda-sūnunā aṁsa-nyasta-prakoṣṭhāyāḥ kareṇoḥ kariṇā yathā

Translation

[牧女们说：]这里是谁的足迹，竟与难陀之子同行？想必祂把手臂搭在她的肩上，正如公象把象鼻搁在随行母象的肩头一般。

Synonyms

• कस्याः: of which (woman)
• कस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction: and)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यातायाः: of (her) who has gone
• यातायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त; ‘gone’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नन्द-सूनुना: with Nanda's son
• नन्द-सूनुना: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्दस्य सूनुः); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अंस-न्यस्त-प्रकोष्ठायाः: whose forearm was placed on (his) shoulder
• अंस-न्यस्त-प्रकोष्ठायाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यस्त (नि+अस्/स्था?; ‘to place’, क्त) + प्रकोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (अंसे न्यस्तः प्रकोष्ठः यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करेणोः: of a female elephant
• करेणोः: Upamana-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करिणा: by a male elephant
• करिणा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (comparative particle: as/like)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Nanda-sūnu)
• Gopīs (Vraja-gopīs)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs recognizing Kṛṣṇa through footprints?

In this verse, the gopīs identify that Kṛṣṇa has gone with one particular gopī by observing the footprints and the implied intimacy—her forearm resting on His shoulder—showing how deeply their love reads spiritual signs in Vraja.

Why do the gopīs say Kṛṣṇa went with a particular gopī in Canto 10 Chapter 30?

Because they see paired footprints and infer from the marks that one gopī walked close to Kṛṣṇa and leaned on Him, indicating He accompanied her for some distance during the rāsa-līlā episode.

Practical application of viraha (separation) devotion in modern life?

The verse highlights attentive remembrance: even in absence, a devotee looks for Kṛṣṇa’s presence through signs—scripture, holy name, and service—transforming longing into steady bhakti rather than distraction.