Shloka 3

Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation

Devanagari script

तं प्रश्रयेणावनता: सुसत्कृतं सव्रीडहासेक्षणसूनृतादिभि: । रहस्यपृच्छन्नुपविष्टमासने विज्ञाय सन्देशहरं रमापते: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ praśrayeṇāvanatāḥ su-sat-kṛtaṁ sa-vrīḍa-hāsekṣaṇa-sūnṛtādibhiḥ rahasy apṛcchann upaviṣṭam āsane vijñāya sandeśa-haraṁ ramā-pateḥ

Translation

牧女们谦恭低首，以含羞的微笑、柔和的目光与悦耳的言辞恭敬款待乌达婆。随后她们将他带到僻静处，安置在座上；认出他是拉玛之主——圣克里希纳——的使者，便开始私下询问。

Synonyms

• tam: him (Uddhava)
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• praśrayeṇa: with humility
• praśrayeṇa: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• avanatāḥ: bowed down
• avanatāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avanata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• su-sat-kṛtam: well honored/worshipped
• su-sat-kṛtam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-sat-kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-īkṣaṇa-sūnṛta-ādibhiḥ: with bashfulness, smiles, glances, sweet words, etc.
• sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-īkṣaṇa-sūnṛta-ādibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: savrīḍahāsekṣaṇasūnṛtādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• rahasi: in a solitary place
• rahasi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• apṛcchan: they asked
• apṛcchan: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Plural

• upaviṣṭam: seated
• upaviṣṭam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upaviṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• āsane: on a seat
• āsane: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vijñāya: having understood/recognized
• vijñāya: Purvakala-kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-jñā (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (lyap-pratyaya)

• sandeśa-haram: messenger (carrier of message)
• sandeśa-haram: Karma (Object/कर्म - complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandeśa-hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ramā-pateḥ: of the Lord of Lakshmi (Krishna)
• ramā-pateḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

Purport

The chaste gopīs were enlivened to see that a messenger had come from Kṛṣṇa. As Uddhava will discover during his stay in Vṛndāvana, the unique gopīs could not think of anything but their beloved Kṛṣṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Gopīs of Vraja
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Ramā-pati)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.47.3 say about how the gopīs received Uddhava?

It describes the gopīs bowing humbly and honoring Uddhava with shy smiles, sidelong glances, and sweet words, recognizing him as Kṛṣṇa’s messenger.

Why did the gopīs question Uddhava confidentially in Bhagavatam 10.47?

Because they understood he carried a personal message from Kṛṣṇa; their love is intimate and private, so they asked him in confidence about Kṛṣṇa and His intentions.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches respectful reception of saintly messengers/teachers, humility in inquiry, and heartfelt, sincere communication in one’s relationship with God.