Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15

Gopī-gīta Aftermath: Kṛṣṇa Returns and Explains Divine Non-Reciprocation

Rāsa-līlā Dialogue

Devanagari script

सभाजयित्वा तमनङ्गदीपनं सहासलीलेक्षणविभ्रमभ्रुवा । संस्पर्शनेनाङ्ककृताङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिहस्तयो: संस्तुत्य ईषत्कुपिता बभाषिरे ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sabhājayitvā tam anaṅga-dīpanaṁ sahāsa-līlekṣaṇa-vibhrama-bhruvā saṁsparśanenāṅka-kṛtāṅghri-hastayoḥ saṁstutya īṣat kupitā babhāṣire

Translation

她们礼敬那点燃情爱之火的圣奎师那：以含笑的戏谑目光，以眉梢传情的姿态，并将他的手足置于膝上轻抚按摩以作供奉。然而即便在敬拜之中，她们仍带几分嗔怨，于是对他说道如下。

Synonyms

• सभाजयित्वा: having welcomed/honored
• सभाजयित्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भाज्/भज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having honored/received’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनङ्ग-दीपनम्: kindling desire (love)
• अनङ्ग-दीपनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दीपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘अनङ्गं (कामं) दीपयति इति’ (kāma-kindling)

• स-हास-लील-ईक्षण-विभ्रम-भ्रुवा: with eyebrows expressing playful, smiling, coquettish glances
• स-हास-लील-ईक्षण-विभ्रम-भ्रुवा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + हास (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः: ‘हासेन सह, लीलया ईक्षणेन, विभ्रमयुक्तया भ्रुवा’—करण (instrument)

• संस्पर्शनेन: by touch
• संस्पर्शनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अङ्क-कृत-अङ्घ्रि-हस्तयोः: of (his) feet and hands placed on their laps
• अङ्क-कृत-अङ्घ्रि-हस्तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्वाभास-युग्म), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘अङ्के कृतौ अङ्घ्री च हस्तौ च’—सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• संस्तुत्य: having praised
• संस्तुत्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having praised’

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पत्ववाचक (adverb ‘slightly’)

• कुपिताः: angered
• कुपिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of gopīs)

• बभाषिरे: they spoke
• बभाषिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopīs of Vraja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs’ loving displeasure (māna) toward Krishna?

This verse shows the gopīs praising and embracing Kṛṣṇa, yet speaking with slight displeasure—illustrating māna, a refined feature of Vraja-prema where intimacy includes playful resentment born of deep love.

Why did the gopīs speak as if angry to Śrī Kṛṣṇa during the Rāsa-līlā?

After welcoming Him with smiles, glances, and affectionate touch, they still felt hurt by His earlier behavior (such as disappearing), so their devotion expressed itself as gentle reproach rather than ordinary anger.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches that genuine devotion is intimate and honest—one may serve, praise, and remain faithful even while expressing heartfelt feelings to God, transforming emotion into deeper remembrance and surrender.