FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.39.36

यावदालक्ष्यते केतुर्यावद् रेणू रथस्य च । अनुप्रस्थापितात्मानो लेख्यानीवोपलक्षिता: ॥ ३६ ॥
yāvad ālakṣyate ketur
[yaavad aalakshyate ketur]
yāvad reṇū rathasya ca
[yaavad renoo rathasya cha]
anuprasthāpitātmāno
[anuprasthaapitaatmaano]
lekhyānīvopalakṣitāḥ
[lekhyaaneevopalakshitaah]
Word-for-word
yāvat — as long as ālakṣyate — was visible ketuḥ — the flag yāvat — as long as reṇuḥ — the dust rathasya — of the chariot ca — and anuprasthāpita — sending after ātmānaḥ — their minds lekhyāni — painted figures iva — like upalakṣitāḥ — they appeared .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yāvad ālakṣyate ketur
yāvat
as long as
ālakṣyate
was visible
ketuḥ
the flag
yāvad reṇū rathasya ca
yāvat
as long as
reṇuḥ
the dust
rathasya
of the chariot
ca
and
anuprasthāpitātmāno
anuprasthāpita
sending after
ātmānaḥ
their minds
lekhyānīvopalakṣitāḥ
lekhyāni
painted figures
iva
like
upalakṣitāḥ
they appeared .
Important Words
  • ketuḥ — the (chariot's) flag / banner
    Ketu = banner. The highest visible point of a moving chariot. The gopīs watch the flag because the body of the chariot has already vanished — they cling to the last detail of His departure.
  • reṇuḥ — the dust
    Reṇu = the dust raised by chariot-wheels. When even the flag passes from sight, only the dust marks His passage. Gauḍīyas note that this very dust later becomes their object of worship — the dust of His chariot's road is itself tīrtha.
  • lekhyāni iva — like figures in a painting
    Lekhya = a painted figure (from √likh, to scratch/draw). Their bodies have become still as paint on wood. The metaphor anticipates the iconographic immobility of devotional images themselves — the gopī sitting as a mūrti.
  • anuprasthāpita - ātmānaḥ — having sent their souls after (Him)
    The mind/soul (ātman) is sent ahead with the chariot. The body remains but is empty — only a shell, awaiting return. Gauḍīya doctrine: the devotee's ātman lives where the Lord is, not where the body sits.
Sending their minds after Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs stood as motionless as figures in a painting. They remained there as long as the flag atop the chariot was visible, and even until they could no longer see the dust raised by the chariot wheels.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sending their minds after Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs stood as motionless as figures in a painting. They remained there as long as the flag atop the chariot was visible, and even until they could no longer see the dust raised by the chariot wheels.
Commentary

As long as the flag staff of the chariot was a little visible, the gopis , following behind him with their minds, remained standing. They appeared to others to be like painted pictures as they stood motionless.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The gopīs maintained their lives at that time, but were not peaceful. As long as the flag was somewhat visible and as long as the chariot and the dust were visible, they remained, sending their hearts after him. They seemed like painted pictures to people nearby (upalakṣitāḥ).

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The gopīs maintained their lives at that time, but were not peaceful. As long as the flag was somewhat visible and as long as the chariot and the dust were visible, they remained, sending their hearts after him. They seemed something like painted pictures to people nearby (upalakṣitāḥ), since they did not move. They appeared to be there, but not actually living in those bodies. The word ca indicates doubt.

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Prema (Divine Love)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)
Related verses
BG 15.9 BG 9.1 BG 4.8 BG 10.1 BG 18.64 BG 15.7 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 10.4 BG 12.3 BG 15.2 SB 4.29.2 BG 2.21 BG 16.1 BG 9.11 BG 3.30
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Sending their minds after Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs stand motionless as paintings, watching the chariot's flag and then the dust until both are gone. Devotion stays at the window long after most have gone back inside.
Reflection Questions
  • How long do you 'watch the dust' after a spiritual experience passes, before turning to other things?
  • What does it mean to send your mind after Him while your body stays still?
Analogy

Like a row of paintings whose subjects have sent their souls after the disappearing chariot — the gopīs stand as still as figures on a wall, watching first the chariot's flag and then merely the dust raised by its wheels. When even the dust settles, they themselves become the dust.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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