SB 10.33.15 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

कर्णोत्पलालकविटङ्ककपोलघर्म- वक्त्रश्रियो वलयनूपुरघोषवाद्यै: । गोप्य: समं भगवता ननृतु: स्वकेश- स्रस्तस्रजो भ्रमरगायकरासगोष्ठ्याम् ॥ १५ ॥

Verse text

karṇotpalālaka-viṭaṅka-kapola-gharma- vaktra-śriyo valaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ gopyaḥ samaṁ bhagavatā nanṛtuḥ sva-keśa- srasta-srajo bhramara-gāyaka-rāsa-goṣṭhyām

Synonyms

karṇa — upon their ears ; utpala — with the lotus flowers ; alaka — by locks of their hair ; vitaṅka — decorated ; kapola — their cheeks ; gharma — with perspiration ; vaktra — of their faces ; śriyaḥ — the beauty ; valaya — of their armlets ; nūpura — and ankle bells ; ghoṣa — of the reverberation ; vādyaiḥ — with the musical sound ; gopyaḥ — the gopīs ; samam — together ; bhagavatā — with the Personality of Godhead ; nanṛtuḥ — danced ; sva — their own ; keśa — from the hair ; srasta — scattered ; srajaḥ — the garlands ; bhramara — the bees ; gāyaka — singers ; rāsa — of the rāsa dance ; goṣṭhyām — in the assembly .

Translation

Enhancing the beauty of the gopīs ’ faces were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of perspiration. The reverberation of their armlets and ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their chaplets scattered. Thus the gopīs danced with the Supreme Lord in the arena of the rāsa dance as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Enhancing the beauty of the gopīs' faces were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of perspiration. The reverberation of their armlets and ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their chaplets scattered. Thus the gopīs danced with the Supreme Lord in the arena of the rāsa dance as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment. KB 10.33.15 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam thus describes the beauty of the gopīs while they were rāsa dancing with Kṛṣṇa. There were lotus flowers over both their ears, and their faces were decorated with sandalwood pulp. They wore tilaka, and there were drops of perspiration on their smiling mouths. From their feet came the tinkling sound of ankle bells and bangles. The flowers within their hair were falling to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and He was very satisfied.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

After describing the beauty of the various elements of song and dance, the beauty of the gopis enhanced by the dancing is described. They had earrings (karna utpala), their locks of hair swayed with the movements of the dancing. Perspiration appeared on their foreheads. All of this intensified the beauty of their faces as they danced. The sound of their bangles and ankle bells surpassed the music of instruments. Instruments such as drums and flutes also were played. The presiding deities of the instruments all appeared there to make their lives successful. However the instruments sounded without anyone having to play them. The garlands tied in their hair loosened and fell to the ground, as if the hair arrangements, pleased with the skilful dance steps of the gopis, were throwing down flowers in appreciation of their feet.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Their greatness is shown in two verses. Though they became tired from dancing, they became most beautiful. The reason for dancing is described. Since Kṛṣṇa displayed the highest essence of his unlimited sweetness (bhagavatā), they developed the highest bliss with him, since the gopīs were famous for being controlled by love for Kṛṣṇa alone. Being with him, they also displayed similar beauty and other qualities. And like them, he wore ornaments such as lotuses in his ears. The bees were remarkable because they were able to singing suitably for this occasion. Śrīdhara Svāmī says that at this time the musicians from the heavenly planets also played drums suitable for the occasion. He also includes Kinnaras since “inhabitants of the sky” were mentioned in verse 4. The gopīs did not depend on any other persons for singing or music however. They played and sang to express their joy.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Their greatness is shown in two verses. Though they became tired from dancing, they became most beautiful. The reason for dancing is described. Since Kṛṣṇa displayed the highest essence of his unlimited sweetness (bhagavatā), they developed the highest bliss with him, since the gopīs were famous for being controlled by love for Kṛṣṇa alone. Being with him, they also displayed similar beauty and other qualities. And like them, he wore ornaments such as lotuses in his ears. Śrīdhara Svāmī says that at this time the musicians from the heavenly planets also played drums suitable for the occasion. He also includes Kinnaras since “inhabitants of the sky” were mentioned in verse 4. Or this verse shows what was previously mentioned: that they were superior to Lakṣmī. Or previously the male Gandharvas had sung. Now at the beginning of the dance, they did not depend on others for singing and instruments. Or previously the songs of the Gandharvas and the music from their bangles were described. Now, even without that singing or sound of the bangles they danced. Valaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ can be taken as a negative: avalaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ. This is because, absorbed in the dance, they would deviate from the music. Thus even the bees did not hum at this time (abhramara-gāyaka). The garlands in their hair scattered because their hair worshipped his feet by scattering the flowers.