SB 10.47.43 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

ता: किं निशा: स्मरति यासु तदा प्रियाभि- र्वृन्दावने कुमुदकुन्दशशाङ्करम्ये । रेमे क्व‍णच्चरणनूपुररासगोष्ठ्या- मस्माभिरीडितमनोज्ञकथ: कदाचित् ॥ ४३ ॥

Verse text

tāḥ kiṁ niśāḥ smarati yāsu tadā priyābhir vṛndāvane kumuda-kunda-śaśāṅka-ramye reme kvaṇac-caraṇa-nūpura-rāsa-goṣṭhyām asmābhir īḍita-manojṣa-kathaḥ kadācit

Synonyms

tāḥ — those ; kim — whether ; niśāḥ — nights ; smarati — He remembers ; yāsu — in which ; tadā — then ; priyābhiḥ — with His beloved girlfriends ; vṛndāvane — in the Vṛndāvana forest ; kumuda — because of the lotuses ; kunda — and jasmines ; śaśāṅka — and because of the moon ; ramye — attractive ; reme — He enjoyed ; kvaṇat — jingling ; caraṇa — nūpura — (where) the ankle bells ; rāsa — goṣṭhyām — in the party of the rāsa dance ; asmābhiḥ — with us ; īḍita — glorified ; manojṣa — charming ; kathaḥ — topics about whom ; kadācit — ever .

Translation

Does He recall those nights in the Vṛndāvana forest, lovely with lotus, jasmine and the bright moon? As we glorified His charming pastimes, He enjoyed with us, His beloved girlfriends, in the circle of the rāsa dance, which resounded with the music of ankle bells.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Does He recall those nights in the Vṛndāvana forest, lovely with lotus, jasmine and the bright moon? As we glorified His charming pastimes, He enjoyed with us, His beloved girlfriends, in the circle of the rāsa dance, which resounded with the music of ankle bells. KB 10.47.43 Another gopī inquired, “Does He remember that night in the midst of kumuda flowers and moonlight, when Vṛndāvana became exceedingly beautiful? Kṛṣṇa was dancing with us, and the atmosphere was surcharged with the sound of foot bells. We exchanged pleasing conversation then. Does He remember that particular night? We remember that night, …

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives the following deep realization about this verse: “The gopīs knew that no place could be as beautiful as Vṛndāvana. Nowhere else in the universe could one find such a charming scene as the Vṛndāvana forest, which was scented with pious flowers and illumined by the full moon’s light reflected from the serene waves of the sacred Yamunā River. No one loved Kṛṣṇa as much as the gopīs, and thus no one else could understand Him as well. The gopīs rendered intimate service to Kṛṣṇa that only they could perfect. Thus the gopīs were distraught to think that Lord Kṛṣṇa was bereft of Vṛndāvana and bereft of their service. Free of all material lust, they were overwhelmed with disappointment because they could not give Kṛṣṇa happiness by their loving service. They simply could not imagine Kṛṣṇa enjoying anywhere else as He did in Vṛndāvana in their company.”

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

"O dear gopis! What is the use of criticizing Krsna and the women of Mathura with crooked words? Why don’t you instead speak about other people's good qualities?" "By our misfortune Krsna may forget us, but how can he forget the place where he lived?" In this way some gopis speak while crying. "He enjoyed with his dear gopis at the rasa arena in pleasant Vrndavana, which resounded with the sounds of ankle bells, whose river banks were filled with the white splendor of lotus, jasmine and moonlight. His attractive conversations were praised by the heavenly women riding in their airplanes. Do the vile women of Mathura know any such conversations with him? Where is there such a river bank in Mathura? Where else is the music, song and dance so pleasing to Krsna? Who in Mathura knows how to make the crowns, unguents, garlands, and betel nuts preparations? By remaining in Mathura, Krsna's happiness has completely disappeared. We will die just thinking of his lack of bliss. If there were some woman in Mathura like us who could please him, then he could enjoy with her dancing, playing the flute, and other pastimes. If we heard that such a woman existed, then we could remain in Vrndavana happily, even though separate from him." This is the implication of their words.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Ah! Does he remember us after obtaining the city women? Does he ever remember the nights of the rāsa dance? The meaning is this. He, who is now the ruler, is the subject of attractive talks (such as verse 39) which are now worshipped by us gopīs, who are now like starving beggars. They do not directly mention his name because they worry that this will make him appear insignificant. Does he remember those (tāḥ) nights? Those nights are different from the present and past nights. Because there were so many nights like this, it is impossible to forget them. Does he remember those nights sometime? In those nights, in Vṛndāvana, pleasant with lotus and jasmine flowers and the moon, at that time (tadā) he enjoyed with some gopīs who were dear to him. They could not become unhappy like us whom you now see. He enjoyed playing in the gathering, attractive with the sound of ankle bells, with all those women who were similar to us.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Ah! Does he remember us after obtaining the city women? Does he ever remember the nights of the rāsa dance? This describes their qualification to be remembered by him. The plural is used to indicate that the gopīs were innumerable. He enjoyed on those nights in playing during the dance while our and his ankle bells jingled. Or he was the subject of attractive talks in gatherings of gopīs after the dance. The gopīs were the proper assistants. Vṛndāvana was the place. The autumn season with lotuses was the proper time. The ankle bells jingled while engaged in pastimes or while dancing. He spoke attractively when they requested him (īḍita). This was the proper cause for his enthusiasm. Or does he remember those nights in which he enjoyed with us, whom he accepted as lovers (priyabhiḥ). The devatās appeared on vehicles at that time and praised him (īḍita) with songs attractive to him and the world, speaking about his cleverness. That should also be remembered. Or being the subject of attractive praise by the city women, does he remember those nights? The talks also praised those nights.