SB 10.33.2 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तत्रारभत गोविन्दो रासक्रीडामनुव्रतै: । स्त्रीरत्नैरन्वित: प्रीतैरन्योन्याबद्धबाहुभि: ॥ २ ॥

Verse text

tatrārabhata govindo rāsa-krīḍām anuvrataiḥ strī-ratnair anvitaḥ prītair anyonyābaddha-bāhubhiḥ

Synonyms

tatra — there ; ārabhata — began ; govindaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; rāsa — krīḍam — the pastime of the rāsa dance ; anuvrataiḥ — by the faithful ( gopīs ) ; strī — of women ; ratnaiḥ — the jewels ; anvitaḥ — joined ; prītaiḥ — who were satisfied ; anyonya — among one another ; ābaddha — entwining ; bāhubhiḥ — their arms .

Translation

There on the Yamunā’s banks Lord Govinda then began the pastime of the rāsa dance in the company of those jewels among women, the faithful gopīs, who joyfully linked their arms together.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

There on the Yamunā's banks Lord Govinda then began the pastime of the rāsa dance in the company of those jewels among women, the faithful gopīs, who joyfully linked their arms together. KB 10.33.2 After this, the Supreme Personality of Godhead began His rāsa dance. A dance in the midst of many girls is called a rāsa dance. So Kṛṣṇa began to dance among the most beautiful and fortunate girls within the three worlds. The gopīs of Vṛndāvana, who were so attracted to Him, danced with Kṛṣṇa, hand in hand.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

When the rasas of singing, dancing, kissing, embracing combine together, it becomes rasa. Amusement composed of rasa is called rasa krda. He mixed with those gopis, jewels among women, who were now favorable, being of the same mind (anuvarta), who had their hands joined together.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

When his mind was in harmony with their minds (tatra), he then began the rāsa dance, a huge festival, which he desired to perform previously, on attaining these women which he most desired. He had the excellent of the supreme male by revealing his outstanding powers and sweetness as the lord of Gokula (govindaḥ). They were the best of all women (srtī-ratnaiḥ). Nānārtha-varga says ratna means best of a species. This shows the best ingredients for the rāsa dance. They were furthermore influenced by the most intense prema for him (prītaiḥ) and were solely dependent on him (anuvrataiḥ). There were many hands. Anyonyam refers to all the gopīs, rather than one gopī being with him. There was a gopī on either side of him holding his neck. That is the characteristic of the rāsa dance. naṭer gṛhīta-kaṇthanām anyonyātta-kara-śriyām nartakīnām bhaved rāso maṇḍalī-bhūya nartanam Rāsa dance is defined as women holding the neck of the male dancer on either side and forming a circle. They thought “He should remain in this circle and not leave.” Thus they held their hands tightly (ābaddha).