Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24
Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response
मदविघूर्णितलोचन ईषत्- मानद: स्वसुहृदां वनमाली । बदरपाण्डुवदनो मृदुगण्डं मण्डयन् कनककुण्डललक्ष्म्या ॥ २४ ॥ यदुपतिर्द्विरदराजविहारो यामिनीपतिरिवैष दिनान्ते । मुदितवक्त्र उपयाति दुरन्तं मोचयन् व्रजगवां दिनतापम् ॥ २५ ॥
mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā
祂双目微微转动，似带醉意，却仍恭敬问候善意的友伴；身披林花鬘。祂面色皎洁如枣果（badara）之辉，金耳环的光彩更衬出柔嫩双颊。日暮时分，雅度之主步态雍容如王象，笑颜如夜之主月轮，归来解去弗拉阇群牛一日之热恼。
The word gavām is constructed from the Sanskrit word go, which means “cow” or “senses.” Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by coming back to the village of Vraja, relieved the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the distress their eyes and other senses felt during the day because of being separated from direct contact with Him.
FAQs
It portrays Kṛṣṇa’s enchanting features—His slightly unsteady eyes from loving joy, the forest garland, a pale-golden face, and cheeks beautified by shining golden earrings—seen through the gopīs’ absorbed remembrance.
In separation from Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs relive His presence by vividly recalling His form and gestures; their detailed descriptions are a devotional practice of smaraṇa (remembrance) fueled by viraha-bhakti.
It encourages focused remembrance of the Lord’s form and qualities—regularly meditating on Kṛṣṇa’s līlā and rūpa can deepen affection and steadiness in bhakti even amid daily separation from sacred association.