Devanagari
गोप्यो मुकुन्दविगमे विरहातुरा याआशासताशिष ऋता मधुपुर्यभूवन्
सम्पश्यतां पुरुषभूषणगात्रलक्ष्मींहित्वेतरान् नु भजतश्चकमेऽयनं श्री: ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
gopyo mukunda-vigame virahāturā yā
āśāsatāśiṣa ṛtā madhu-pury abhūvan
sampaśyatāṁ puruṣa-bhūṣaṇa-gātra-lakṣmīṁ
hitvetarān nu bhajataś cakame ’yanaṁ śrīḥ
Synonyms
gopyaḥ
—
the gopīs
;
mukunda
—
vigame — when Lord Mukunda was departing
;
viraha
—
by feelings of separation
;
āturāḥ
—
tormented
;
yāḥ
—
which
;
āśāsata
—
they had spoken
;
āśiṣaḥ
—
the benedictions
;
ṛtāḥ
—
true
;
madhu
—
puri — in Mathurā
;
abhūvan
—
have become
;
sampaśyatām
—
for those who are fully seeing
;
puruṣa
—
of men
;
bhūṣaṇa
—
of the ornament
;
gātra
—
of His body
;
lakṣmīm
—
the beauty
;
hitvā
—
abandoning
;
itarān
—
others
;
nu
—
indeed
;
bhajataḥ
—
who were worshiping her
;
cakame
—
hankered for
;
ayanam
—
shelter
;
śrīḥ
—
the goddess of fortune .
Translation
At the time of Mukunda’s [Kṛṣṇa’s] departure from Vṛndāvana, the gopīs had foretold that the residents of Mathurā would enjoy many benedictions, and now the gopīs’ predictions were coming true, for those residents were gazing upon the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, the jewel among men. Indeed, the goddess of fortune desired the shelter of that beauty so much that she abandoned many other men, although they worshiped her.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
At the time of Mukunda's [Kṛṣṇa's] departure from Vṛndāvana, the gopīs had foretold that the residents of Mathurā would enjoy many benedictions, and now the gopīs' predictions were coming true, for those residents were gazing upon the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, the jewel among men. Indeed, the goddess of fortune desired the shelter of that beauty so much that she abandoned many other men, although they worshiped her.
KB 10.42.24
When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had been going from Vṛndāvana to Mathurā, the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana had imagined the great fortune of the citizens of Mathurā in being able to see the wonderful beauty of Kṛṣṇa, who is worshiped by His pure devotees as well as the goddess of fortune. The fantasies of the residents of Vṛndāvana were now actually realized, for the citizens of Mathurā became fully satisfied by seeing Kṛṣṇa.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
When Krsna had left Vraja for Mathura, the women of Vraja predicted, "It will be an auspicious morning for the women of Mathura, and a morning filled with sorrow for us. The blessings of their priests have become successful, and the blessings of ours have failed. When Krsnsa enters the city they will taste with their glances the sweetness of his moonlike face, his sweet smiles."
Sukadeva, being of the same emotional state as the gopis, overcome with sorrow due to remembrance of their separation from Krsna, made Pariksit recollect the previous condition. When Krsna was leaving for Mathura, the gopis gave the following blessing. "Today the women of Mathura will enjoy great happiness that we should enjoy. That has come true, as the women of Mathura gaze at Krsna’s body." How could this not come true? Desiring the shelter of beauty of those limbs, to make herself more beautiful (since Krsna’s limbs are the ornament of all ornaments), the goddess of all beauty of the three worlds, gave up all other men who desire her."
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
This verse describes the prema of the gopīs and the residents of Mathurā. The gopīs had said:
sukhaṁ prabhātā rajanīyam āśiṣaḥ
satyā babhūvuḥ pura-yoṣitāṁ dhruvam
yāḥ saṁpraviṣṭasya mukhaṁ vrajas-pateḥ
pāsyanty apāṅgotkalita-smitāsavam
This night will certainly bring joy to the women of Mathurā. All their hopes will now be fulfilled, for as the Lord of Vraja enters their city, they will be able to drink from his face the nectar of the smile emanating from the corners of his eyes. SB 10.39.23
The blessings which the gopīs filled with pain of separation had desired for the women of Mathurā as mentioned in the verse above when Kṛṣṇa left Vraja for Mathurā now bore fruit for those people who saw the beauty of the limbs of the ornament of all men in Mathurā. The beauty of his limbs is then described.
śrīr yat padāmbuja-rajaś cakame tulasyā
labdhvāpi vakṣasi padaṁ kila bhṛtya-juṣṭam
yasyāḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa utānya-sura-prayāsas
tadvad vayaṁ ca tava pāda-rajaḥ prapannāḥ
Goddess Lakṣmī, whose glance is sought after by the demigods with great endeavor, has achieved the unique position of always remaining on the chest of her Lord, Nārāyaṇa. Still, she desires the dust of His lotus feet, even though she has to share that dust with Tulasī-devī and indeed with the Lord’s many other servants. Similarly, we have approached the dust of your lotus feet for shelter. SB 10.29.37
kasyānubhāvo ’sya na deva vidmahe
tavāṅghri-reṇu-sparaśādhikāraḥ
yad-vāñchayā śrīr lalanācarat tapo
vihāya kāmān su-ciraṁ dhṛta-vratā
O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya has attained this great opportunity of being touched by the dust of your lotus feet. For this end, the goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and taking austere vows. SB 10.16.36
Lakṣmī gave up others who worshipped her with a desire for wealth, disregarding her own wealth, and desired the shelter of his beauty. Being most qualified, the gopīs did not welcome separation. Since they were most qualified they understood that separation would not last long.
mayy āveśya manaḥ kṛtsnaṁ vimuktāśeṣa-vṛtti yat
anusmarantyo māṁ nityam acirān mām upaiṣyatha
Because your minds are totally absorbed in me and free from all other engagement, you remember me always, and so you will very soon have me again in your presence. SB 10.47.36
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
The people of Mathurā became blissful as Kṛṣṇa wandered about freely. Their good fortune is described. The auspicious words of the gopīs came true for those who saw him directly (śampaśyatām) at close range as he wandered freely in cowherd dress with his dear friends. This excluded Kaṁsa’s followers.
Or his form only is described to show that great bliss arises from seeing that form. The gopīs said:
adya dhruvaṁ tatra dṛśo bhaviṣyate
dāśārha-bhojāndhaka-vṛṣṇi-sātvatām
mahotsavaḥ śrī-ramaṇaṁ guṇāspadaṁ
drakṣyanti ye cādhvani devakī-sutam
When the Dāśārhas, Bhojas, Andhakas, Vṛṣṇis and Sātvatas see the son of Devakī in Mathurā, they will certainly enjoy a great festival for their eyes, as will all those who see him traveling along the road to the city. After all, he is the darling of the goddess of fortune and the reservoir of all qualities. SB 10.39.25
Madhupuri was named after a demon called Madhu or because it manifested the rasa of highest bliss (madhu) or because it was the residence of the Yadus, descendants of Madhu. It was suitable for Kṛṣṇa. The reason for the truth of their statement is given: the gopīs had spoken in great pain because of separation from he who gave the highest bliss (mukunda). The words coming from the mouths of great souls out of great distress immediately produce results. Or whenever the gopīs thought of Kṛṇsa, they thought in this way.
Lakṣmī desired his shelter, though she is served with reverence by many others. But she did not obtain his direct presence. How to speak of the good fortune of the people of Mathurā?