FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.31.6

व्रजजनार्तिहन् वीर योषितां निजजनस्मयध्वंसनस्मित । भज सखे भवत्किङ्करी: स्म नो जलरुहाननं चारु दर्शय ॥ ६ ॥
vraja-janārti-han vīra yoṣitāṁ
[vraja-janaarti-han veera yoshitaam]
nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita
[nija-jana-smaya-dhvamsana-smita]
bhaja sakhe bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ sma no
[bhaja sakhe bhavat-kinkareeh sma no]
jalaruhānanaṁ cāru darśaya
[jalaruhaananam chaaru darshaya]
vraja - jana — of the people of Vraja ārti — of the suffering han — O destroyer vīra — O hero yoṣitām — of women nija — Your own jana — of the people smaya — the pride dhvaṁsana — destroying smita — whose smile bhaja — please accept sakhe — O friend bhavat — Your kiṅkarīḥ — maidservants sma — indeed naḥ — us jala - ruha — lotus ānanam — Your face cāru — beautiful darśaya — please show .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vraja-janārti-han vīra yoṣitāṁ
vraja - jana
of the people of Vraja
ārti
of the suffering
han
O destroyer
vīra
O hero
yoṣitām
of women
nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita
nija
Your own
jana
of the people
smaya
the pride
dhvaṁsana
destroying
smita
whose smile
bhaja sakhe bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ sma no
bhaja
please accept
sakhe
O friend
bhavat
Your
kiṅkarīḥ
maidservants
sma
indeed
jalaruhānanaṁ cāru darśaya
naḥ
us
jala - ruha
lotus
ānanam
Your face
cāru
beautiful
darśaya
please show .
  • vraja-jana-ārti-han — O destroyer of the suffering of the people of Vraja
    Compound stacking: vraja (Vraja) + jana (people) + ārti (distress) + han (destroyer). One of Kṛṣṇa's most beloved Gauḍīya epithets — He is not just generic ārti-han but specifically the destroyer of Vraja's pain. His mission has an address.
  • smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita — whose smile destroys (their) pride
    Compound: smaya (pride) + dhvaṁsana (destruction) + smita (smile). A Gauḍīya jewel-phrase: Kṛṣṇa's smile dismantles not the devotees' enemies but the devotees' own subtle pride. The gopīs are asking for the smile that breaks down whatever in them is still resisting full surrender.
  • kiṅkarīḥ — maidservants
    Plural of kiṅkarī, 'one who asks kiṁ karomi — what shall I do?' The technical term for a sevikā in mañjarī-bhāva. The gopīs are not asking for romance; they are asking for service — to be the ones whose only question is 'what shall I do for You?'
  • jala-ruha-ānanam — Your face like a lotus
    Compound: jala-ruha (water-born, lotus) + ānanam (face). Lotus imagery in the Gopī-gīta is not decorative — Bhāgavata Vraja-rasa returns again and again to lotuses (feet, hands, face, eyes) because the lotus is Lakṣmī's seat, and the gopīs' love places them around every limb of the One on whom Lakṣmī herself sits.
  • darśaya — please show
    Imperative causative of √dṛś — 'cause us to see'. The whole Gopī-gīta is a sustained request for darśana. Gauḍīya bhakti has darśana as its first food: to see Him is the precondition of every further service.
O You who destroy the suffering of Vraja’s people, O hero of all women, Your smile shatters the false pride of Your devotees. Please, dear friend, accept us as Your maidservants and show us Your beautiful lotus face.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O You who destroy the suffering of Vraja's people, O hero of all women, Your smile shatters the false pride of Your devotees. Please, dear friend, accept us as Your maidservants and show us Your beautiful lotus face.
Commentary

Other gopis said, "Take away the pain arising from the arrows of cupid in the women of Vraja by your smile, but not the pain of other women in svarga and elsewhere." This is mentioned in bhagavatam : vyoma yana vinitah kasmalam..."The women of svarga riding on their planes in the sky fainted from the pain of lust and their belts loosened." "O one who is victorious in the struggle with cupid (vira), you do not tolerate the pride stemming from our good fortune and the anger stemming from that. Your smile destroys of pride of your devotee." "Quickly take your boon" "Please honor us your servants." "If you are my servants, why are you giving me the order to serve you?" "Serve us by showing us your attractive lotus face."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Because of great agitation the gopīs pray for their desires in three verses, first by praying only for acceptance by him. They pray first for general association with him. Accept your servants by standing nearby to remove our sorrow. Let that desire be! Show your attractive face similar to a lotus flower. You will do this because you remove the pain of the people of Vraja (vraja-janārti-han). If you do not sow your face, we will die, and your name will not be true. You are strong (vīra). Thus, though you do not accept us, you are fully capable of doing so. You destroy the pride of your devotees simply by your smile. Therefore you disappeared. This phrase indicates his great attractiveness. We must see that face. O friend! In accepting us, you can act as a friend. Or, in not accepting us, we will suffer and then you will suffer. As friends we will both suffer. However this indicates the fault of destroying their faith. Though they are friends they fear that they have been too bold, because of their humility in separation. Thus they say “We are your servants.” We are just women (yoṣitām). Since we have no ability, you must be merciful to us. Or, among women you destroy the pride of those who are married to you (nija-jana). Therefore accept us as your wives by showing your face and other means indicated till the end of verse 8. Or, out of great pain, they speak in affectionate anger. Though you destroy the pain of the people of Vraja, you are strong and capable (vīra) of killing women! Therefore we are almost dead. Your false smile takes way the happiness of your devotees. Accept those who are not your servants. (abhavat). Show your beautiful lotus face to us since we will certainly die. But the purification takes place just by offering respects.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

You should not only place your hand on your heads but fulfill our desire. What was previously stated they expresses with great longing. By this, they show he is qualified for worship. If you do not accept us, by dying we will stop the pain. O hero (vira)! You are capable of giving even what should not be given. You destroy pride just by your smile. Why do you have to disappear to destroy our pride? Or his great attractiveness is indicated. Therefore we must see him. O friend! This indicates a special type of response. Or you should grieve after seeing our unfortunate state when you do not respond to us, since friends experience each other’s suffering. Or if you do not respond, you will be at fault for destroying trust as a friend. “I do not care for all this.” They then speak in misery. We are your servants. It is most unsuitable to ignore those who have surrendered to you. Or “Follow Balarāma.” We are your servants, not anyone else’s. Show with love (caru) or with a close view your lotus face, with its glance, a movement of the brow and smile. Just by seeing your face which is like a lotus, it removes the pain causes by separation. You must show mercy because we are women (yoṣitām) with no ability. Or if you do not show your face those who take you as their life will die. Or women by the happiness of seeing you become fully devoted to you. Therefore you should show your face to them. Or among women, you should accept those who are your own as your wives. Your smile destroys our pride. Therefore accept them as your servants. The method is explained. Show your lotus face. This method continues till the end of verse 8. Or O hero of women (vira yoṣitām)! You are capable of killing women. We are about to die. Respond to those who are not your servants (abhavat-kiṅkarīḥ). Show us your beautiful lotus face since our death is certain. This is uttered in great pain, and anger.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
Kṛṣṇa is the destroyer of Vraja's suffering and the hero whose smile shatters devotees' false pride. The gopīs ask to be accepted as His maidservants — pride breaks open in the presence of one we truly love.
Reflection Questions
  • What pride of yours has Kṛṣṇa's beauty or kindness already begun to dismantle?
  • Are you willing to be a maidservant in some area where you currently insist on being in charge?

When the village's grief comes to one threshing-floor, the village brings it to the man who can carry it; the gopīs say Vraja itself has set its sorrow down at Your door. And so they ask: do not be a hero to women in general — be hero to these women, the ones who have already laid down their pride and stand here calling You sakhe.

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