Devanagari
गोप्य ऊचु:
मैवं विभोऽर्हति भवान् गदितुं नृशंसं
सन्त्यज्य सर्वविषयांस्तव पादमूलम् ।
भक्ता भजस्व दुरवग्रह मा त्यजास्मान्
देवो यथादिपुरुषो भजते मुमुक्षून् ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
śrī-gopya ūcuḥ
maivaṁ vibho ’rhati bhavān gadituṁ nṛ-śaṁsaṁ
santyajya sarva-viṣayāṁs tava pāda-mūlam
bhaktā bhajasva duravagraha mā tyajāsmān
devo yathādi-puruṣo bhajate mumukṣūn
Synonyms
śrī
—
gopyaḥ ūcuḥ — the beautiful gopīs said
;
mā
—
not
;
evam
—
in this way
;
vibho
—
O all-powerful one
;
arhati
—
should
;
bhavān
—
Your good self
;
gaditum
—
speak
;
nṛ
—
śaṁsam — cruelly
;
santyajya
—
renouncing completely
;
sarva
—
all
;
viṣayān
—
varieties of sense gratification
;
tava
—
Your
;
pāda
—
mūlam — feet
;
bhaktāḥ
—
worshiping
;
bhajasva
—
please reciprocate with
;
duravagraha
—
O stubborn one
;
mā tyaja
—
do not reject
;
asmān
—
us
;
devāḥ
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
;
yathā
—
just as
;
ādi
—
puruṣaḥ — the primeval Lord, Nārāyaṇa
;
bhajate
—
reciprocates
;
mumukṣūn
—
with those who desire liberation .
Translation
The beautiful gopīs said: O all-powerful one, You should not speak in this cruel way. Do not reject us, who have renounced all material enjoyment to render devotional service to Your lotus feet. Reciprocate with us, O stubborn one, just as the primeval Lord, Śrī Nārāyaṇa, reciprocates with His devotees in their endeavors for liberation.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The beautiful gopīs said: O all-powerful one, You should not speak in this cruel way. Do not reject us, who have renounced all material enjoyment to render devotional service to Your lotus feet. Reciprocate with us, O stubborn one, just as the primeval Lord, Śrī Nārāyaṇa, reciprocates with His devotees in their endeavors for liberation.
KB 10.29.31
“Kṛṣṇa,” they said, “You are very cruel! You should not talk like that. We are full-fledged surrendered souls. Please accept us, and don’t talk in that cruel way. Of course, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and can do whatever You like, but it is not worthy of Your position to treat us in such a cruel way. We have come to You, leaving everything behind, just to take shelter of Your lotus feet. We know that You are completely independent and can do whatever You like, but we request You, don’t reject us. We are Your devotees. You should accept us as Lord Nārāyaṇa accepts His devotees. There are many devotees of Lord Nārāyaṇa who worship Him for salvation, and He awards them salvation. Similarly, how can You reject us when we have no shelter other than Your lotus feet?
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"You are giving us instructions about religious principles, but it is inappropriate that you at the same time desire to commit great sins." With this intention the gopis speak to Krsna.
"For you to utter such cruel words which are meant to kill, is not fitting for the son of Nanda, who is famous in this place as a pious leader. (though it may be suitable for a leader who wishes to kill everyone.) Though we are numbering in the millions, you have fired your arrow-like words upon all of us, so that we will now give up our bodies and go to the abode of Yama instead of following your order and going home. You go to Vraja after taking the sin of having killed millions of women. If you do not want to accept the sin of killing so many women, then you should adore those women who have give up everything and come to serve your lotus feet." By using the phrase sarva visaya (all things) instead of anya visaya (other things), they indicate that intimate association of the Lord is not to be classed as a material thing.
"O desirous women, have you come here to worship me because your husbands have not satisfied your lust?"
"Oh one who keeps others at a distance, one hard to attain, one who obstructs the rain, O cloud who rains down poison! Friend of the black cloud, today you have rained down poison on us cataki birds, though we are far from you. Because you are in this form, you did not rain down mercy. Having drunk that poison, we are now dying, but we will not drink the water from the nearby lake. If you want to maintain your nature as being most grateful, you should not reject us."
"O gopis, the cakati waits for the cloud, as you have said, but the cloud does not depend on the cataki. For the cloud, it does not matter whether the cataki lives or dies."
The gopis replied, "That is true, but you are not a cloud, you are like Narayana, and the most clever. Therefore you should act as Narayana acts. Just as the Lord does not reject those seeking liberation, and fulfils their desires, you should fulfill ours. Narayana reciprocates with those who have given up everything by awarding liberation, because he is under the devotee’s control. We also have given up everything and come to your feet, but why do you not reciprocate with us?"
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The following should be considered. Though all the gopīs with similar sentiments could speak the same words at once, since it would not be pleasant that they all spoke together with a loud noise, it should be understood that some of the leaders spoke. Or four leaders spoke the main statements in verses 33, 35, 38 and 41. Or each of them spoke, one after the other. The four groups were situated in the four directions facing him while speaking, just as Kṛṣṇa faced all the cowherd boys around him during the picnic (SB 10.13.8).
I offer my respects to the gopīs by whose mercy I can understand their words. I offer respects to the Supreme Lord, the life of the gopīs. We can later consider whether it is dharma or adharma to give up our husbands and worship you. At this moment however, it will be a great fault in dharma if you reject us. With this intent they speak this verse. Out of great pain and agitation they begin with a negative word mā. What to speak of what you said, anything similar (evam) is also not proper to say. Why? Those words, similar to a thunderbolt, break the heart by their harshness (nrśaṁsam). Or those words immediately cause death. Amara-koṣa says that nṛśama means cruel or a killer. It is not proper to say such words explicitly (gaditum), what to speak of using them constantly. You (bhavān) especially should not do so, since you are famous for having a nature that melts with prema. And furthermore you are the master of our life (vibho). You should not speak to us in this manner. Since it was already mentioned that they spoke with anger, their words and intonation was filled with anger in love, even when expressing humility. Even your tender words of respect welcoming us (verse 18) were uttered with the intention of telling us to return home. Since the intention of your words was to obstruct rasa, the meaning of those polite words was actually the opposite. This is their response to Kṛṣṇa’s words of welcome.
“O eloquent speakers! What can I do for you?” Expecting this reply from Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs speak. Please respond to us according to our desires since we are devoted to the soles of your feet. This is a statement of humility. They do not mention lotus feet since they have already said that he is hard or cruel. This is an answer to his statement “What can I do to please you.”
“Certainly I respond to the wives of the cowherds, but it is proper that you serve your husbands, and not act like this.” We have completely given up all objects of the senses including our husbands since they are unfavorable for worshipping you. This is in response to Kṛṣṇa’s words “Is everything well in Vraja” (verse 18) and instructions to feed the children and calves (verse 22), since all these are included as material sense objects. By this rejection they show their disinterest in their bodies. Because of this, it was unsuitable to tell them that the night was fearful (verse 19). They express this negatively by saying “O Kṛṣṇa you are difficult to attain (duravagraha)! Do not reject us, who have taken shelter of you alone. If you do, you will be at fault.” Fearing he would say, “How am I at fault?” they show that he must protect respective dharmas since he is the Lord who is beyond dharma and adharma. Nārāyaṇa responds even to those who desire liberation, what to speak of those who desire service to him. Or the sentence can mean “Nārāyaṇa responds to those who do not desire liberation--the devotees.” Or it can mean “Nārāyaṇa responds to those who give up everything other than the Lord.” Just as he accepts everyone just by their worship, so you should accept us. Instead of bhajasva, sometimes bhajata is seen. Since you accept all those who have given up all desires during sādhana and perfection (sādhya) and do not reject them, you should accept us. Though the gopīs, fixed in Kṛṣṇa as a cowherd, had no respect for jñāna, jñāna and all other processes served them:
yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā
sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ
harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā
manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ
The devatās constantly dwell with all good qualities in that person who has pure bhakti for the Lord. There are no good qualities in the non-devotee who chases after temporary material objects with desire for material pleasure. SB 5.18.12
hari-bhakti-mahā-devyāḥ sarvā mukty-ādi-siddhayaḥ |
bhuktayaś cādbhutās tasyāś ceṭikāvad anudrutāḥ ||
All the perfections such as liberation and wondrous enjoyments pursue the great goddess of devotion to the Lord like maidservants. Nārada Pañcarātra
The purpose of statements of jñāna among the words of the gopīs is to show the glory of the gopīs and show the astonishing nature of these special devotees impelled by śaktis like jñāna.
Or, out of great humility and misery the gopīs speculate about Kṛṣṇa’s great power. O Lord who spreads everywhere inside and outside! You know our inner feelings completely. Please accept us who have surrendered to your feet with devotion. Otherwise your words in the Gītā would be meaningless:
ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham |
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||
I respond to persons according to the manner and mood in which they surrender to me. O son of Pṛthā, all blessed men follow these various paths of worship of me, the one Lord. BG 4.11
“O respectable gopīs who know the truth! Why do you want material happiness?” We have given up material sense objects: we desire the highest spiritual happiness since pastimes with you are the essence of all goals, being the mature fruit of prema. The deep meaning is “To make your vow that you respond to your devotees true, you should enjoy us, since we have given up everything.” O Kṛṣṇa, you do as you like (duravagraha). Do not reject us who have surrendered to you. Since you are the Supreme Lord, adharma does not touch you. Since it is contrary to the scriptures that state that you keep your promise, breaking your promise is not proper. You should accept those people who give up everything including kingdom and even Vaikuṇṭha and cannot give up you (amumukṣūn te bhaja). Genitive te is used for accusative tvām.
Or, you accept those desiring liberation so they can attain you, for you are worshipped by the universe (devaḥ). Otherwise your position as deva would be incomplete. You are rightly (yathā) Svayam Bhagavān (ādi-puruṣaḥ). This verse is similar to the words of the brāhmaṇas’ wives in that it expresses great anguish. The gopīs, being by nature filled with pain, were also skilful in using words.
Thus in their words of request refusal can also be seen. You should not utter cruel words such as “What can I do for you” and “Please tell me.” You should by your free will (duravagraham) accept those who have given up everything and worship your feet. But you should give us up completely (ātyaja). Masters accept devotees and not others. An example is given. The Lord accepts those devotees who desire liberation. In this meaning the gopīs speak in a joking manner on the subject.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
svāgataṁ vo mahā-bhāgāḥ priyaṁ kiṁ karavāṇi vaḥ (SB 10.23.25)
svāgataṁ vo mahā-bhāgāḥ priyaṁ kiṁ karavāṇi vaḥ (SB 10.29.18)
Since Kṛṣṇa began to speak to the gopīs with the same words that he spoke to the wives of brāhmaṇas, the gopīs reply with words similar to the words of the wives. (svāgataṁ vo mahā-bhāgāḥ priyaṁ kiṁ karavāṇi vaḥ SB 10.23.29) Actually they spoke to get relief from the pain caused by his cheating words. You should not speak such words that you spoke to them. They speak with great pain. Why? The words are cruel, breaking the heart, being hard as diamonds. Or the words directly bring about death. Nṛśaṁṣa means violent or causing death. You should not clearly say (gaditum) such words, or if saying them, you should not put them into action. You are soft with prema. Let others speak such words. Using the word bhavān (you) indicates their respect for him, in order to indicate their initial conciliatory mood. Bhavān also means the moon, which is lord of the contellations (bha). Since you increase love like the moon, you should not speak such words. O lord of our life, or person spreading everywhere inside and outside (vibho)! You know our love. Therefore you should not speak such words.
Though you spoke respectfully, reasonably and softly, the meaning of the words was the opposite, since those words obstructed prema-rasa and were spoken to convince us to return home.
This verse answers Kṛṣṇa’s first words in verse 18. “O good speakers! What can I do?” Please fulfill our desires (bhajasva) or enjoy with love. Why? Because we have begun to worship (tad bhaktāḥ) the soles of your feet or the dust of your feet, or your shoes. They do not mention lotus feet, since they convey that he is hard because of his harsh words. Or we have begun to worship your feet which are the shelter of all things. Even today the worship is not fully accomplished. They say this with humility and politeness, with a desire to be his servants. Or we have taken shelter of your feet. If you do not fulfill our desires, your words would be meaningless. ye yathamāṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham: I respond according to the devotee’s surrender. (BG 4.11) This is their response to his question “What can I do for you?” (SB 10.29.18)
“O wives of cowherds! Why should I respond to you, who are difficult to associate with, since I am detached and not married? Why should I respond to you who are not detached?”
We have completely give up all objects of the senses, achieved by husbands etc. and will not accept them again since everything is obtained by attaining your lotus feet, which are the root of everything. Or we gave up everything since it was unfavorable for worshipping you. By giving up senses objects, giving up husbands is understood, since husbands are the root of sense enjoyment.
Or “O worshippable ladies who know the truth! Why do you desire happiness from material objects?” We have given up sense objects. We desire the highest spiritual happiness. Playing with you is the essence of unlimited human goals, since it is the manifestation of mature prema. You must also respond to us by giving up everything, as we did, to make your words tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham true. This is a response to his words “Is everything well in Vraja?” (verse 18) What is the use of asking if everything is well, when he acts indifferently, though we have given up everything?
“O fickle women! I fear adharma.” They say with anger, “O crest jewel of whimsy (duravagraha)! Or Kṛṣṇa difficult to attain! Do not reject us, who have surrendered to you. Being so hard to attain, you will be sinful if you reject those who have surrendered to you. You will break your vow of keeping your promise. Since you are the supreme Lord you should not be touched by sin. Breaking promises is not proper. Or do not give us up completely (ātyaja) out of stubbornness.
“O talkative women! Being full of desire, you are not suitable for me.” True Great persons accept those who worship them while giving up everything. They give an example. As the Lord (deva) you must fulfill the desires of you devotees, especially if you are the greatest person (ādi-puruṣaḥ). You respond to those who desire liberation, so you must respond much more to those who desire you alone. Or the great person responds to the devotees (amumukṣān). Just as he accepts, you should accept us. Or yathā can stand for yathāvat (suitably). The meaning of the example is the same. Just as the great man accepts all who worship in some way, so you should accept us.
Or “O chaste women! I should not act in such a way.” The object of worship (deva), even if he is the supreme Lord, accepts those desiring liberation. By giving them liberation he fulfills their desires. Thus there is no fault in fulfilling the desires of devotees.
Being omniscient, Kṛṣṇa knew that the gopīs who desired him were special devotees having knowledge of his great powers which assist in creating variety in mahābhāva. He had them engage in skillful use of words to make his mind favorable, in order to announce their greatness, though the descriptions of his powers is unsuitable for his final goal. The gopīs thought, “He will think that we are ignorant of the real nature of the Lord if we do not mention his greatness.”
This description of his greatness occurred when they were in great distress, not when they were in bliss. Knowledge of his greatness detracts from their happiness in relation to him. They never change the sweetness of their love. Similarly there is the following statement:
na khalu gopīkā-nandano bhavān
akhila-dehinām antarātma-dṛk
vikhanasārthito viśva-guptaye
sakha udeyivān sātvatāṁ kule
You are not actually the son of the gopī Yaśodā, O friend, but rather the indwelling witness in the hearts of all embodied souls. Because Brahmā prayed for you to come and protect the universe, you have now appeared in the Sātvata dynasty. SB 10.31.4
O pervader inside and outside (vibho)! You know our love. Therefore respond to us who have taken shelter at your feet. Otherwise your promise to respond in BG 4.11 would be meaningless.
Or they speak in anger arising from their love. O person who does not respond to the devotees (bhaktā abhaja)! O person inaccessible (duravagraha) to the devotees (sva)! We gave up all enjoyable things. Or we gave up all material enjoyment and even Vaikuṇṭha.
Accept persons who never desire to give up (amumukṣūn) the soles of your feet since you are worshipped by the universe (devaḥ). If you do not accept us, you cannot be worshipped as deva.
You must accept us since you are the supreme Lord (ādi-puruṣaḥ) completely (yathā). Otherwise your nature as Bhagavān is not accomplilshed. Generally they speak in order to convince him to accept them, by showing logic. Do not give us up, since we are yours.
Sarasvātī, their friend, keeping a second meaning in the painful words of the gopīs, sings their greatness to the devotees of Kṛṣṇa.
Do not say words like “Please tell me” since we have give up enjoyment. To start enjoying again would be a fault for us, who have surrendered to you. Give up your stubbornness (duravagraham ātyaja). Just as the Lord responds to persons desiring liberation, you should respond to us. Give ups the highest goal, not material happiness. That is our welcome, or good fortune, the well being of Vraja.
Or you should respond without restraint to those who worship your feet, giving up all enjoyment. Give us up completely (ā tyaja). Those who are great respond to the devotees but not to the nondevotees. Then the example of the Lord is given.