Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution

Devanagari script

कस्याश्‍चिन्नाट्यविक्षिप्त कुण्डलत्विषमण्डितम् । गण्डं गण्डे सन्दधत्या: प्रादात्ताम्बूलचर्वितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

kasyāścin nāṭya-vikṣipta kuṇḍala-tviṣa-maṇḍitam gaṇḍaṁ gaṇḍe sandadhatyāḥ prādāt tāmbūla-carvitam

Translation

一位牧女舞动时，将因耳环闪耀而增辉的面颊贴近克里希纳的面颊；随后克里希纳细心地把自己正在咀嚼的槟榔叶（tāmbūla）赐给了她。

Synonyms

• kasyāḥ-cit: of some (woman)
• kasyāḥ-cit: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (अव्यय)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; sarvanāma with enclitic 'cit' (indefinite)

• nāṭya-vikṣipta: flung about by dancing
• nāṭya-vikṣipta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāṭya (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle 'vikṣipta'); tatpuruṣa: 'nāṭyena vikṣipta' = tossed about by dancing; (used adjectivally)

• kuṇḍala-tviṣā-maṇḍitam: adorned by the shine of earrings
• kuṇḍala-tviṣā-maṇḍitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍita (√maṇḍ, धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle 'maṇḍita'); Napuṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana agreeing with gaṇḍam; tatpuruṣa: 'kuṇḍala-tviṣā maṇḍitam' = adorned by the luster of earrings

• gaṇḍam: cheek
• gaṇḍam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• gaṇḍe: on (her) cheek
• gaṇḍe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• sandadhatyāḥ: of (her) who was placing
• sandadhatyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; śatṛ-pratyaya (present active participle) in feminine genitive singular: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; 'of her who was placing/joining'

• prādāt: he gave
• prādāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (धातu)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tāmbūla-carvitam: chewed betel
• tāmbūla-carvitam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmbūla (प्रातिपदिक) + carvita (√carv, धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle 'carvita' used substantively); Napuṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'tāmbūlaṃ carvitam' = chewed betel

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• a gopī (Vraja-gopī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopīs’ service to Krishna in the Rāsa-līlā?

This verse shows a gopī offering intimate, affectionate service—pressing cheek to cheek and giving Kṛṣṇa betel—highlighting the spontaneity and tenderness of Vraja-bhakti.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe details like earrings, dancing, and betel in Canto 10 Chapter 33?

He depicts the sensory beauty of the rāsa dance to convey the intensity of the gopīs’ love and the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, which are expressions of divine devotion rather than ordinary romance.

Practical application of Rāsa-līlā teachings in modern life?

Cultivate loving, selfless service and remembrance of God with purity—offering one’s best attention, time, and heart to Kṛṣṇa—while avoiding mundane imitation of these confidential pastimes.