Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.47.50
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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nanda-gopa-sutam
—
the son of Nanda the cowherd king
Compound: nanda + gopa (cowherd) + sutam (son). The gopīs use the Vraja-name now — not Yadu-pati, not Vāsudeva. Nanda's son. The chapter's wound is partly the gap between this name and 'Mathurā-king.'
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śrī-niketaiḥ
—
having divine markings
Compound: śrī (auspicious) + niketaiḥ (abodes, marks). Śrī-niketa — the marks of cakra, śaṅkha, padma, dhvaja, etc., on Kṛṣṇa's soles. Gauḍīyas codify these 19 marks as the deha-lakṣaṇa of svayaṁ-Bhagavān.
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padakaiḥ
—
by the footprints
From pada (foot) + diminutive. The little footprints in Vraja dust. The verse's tenderness: Bhagavān's foot is the same that crosses the universe in three steps as Vāmana — yet in Vraja it leaves a small mark in mud.
"When the memory of a desired object vanishes, the hopes for it also vanish. However, that will never happen with us. We can never forget him." This is expressed in three verses. "The rivers, hills, forests, cows and flute were served or used (arcitah) by Krsna. We cannot forget him, because of his footprints remaining in the earth and stone, marked with the thunderbolt, flag and other symbols."
All these item make us constantly remember Kṛṣṇa with intensity (punaḥ punaḥ). In great humility they address Uddhava as master (prabho). Or, you are capable at all times (prabho). Therefore at this place carry out proper actions. He is the son of Nanda. Those things make us remember as the cowherd boy though from your instructions, with the greatest effort, we have been made to remember him as the Lord. We have no taste for jñāna. “You can forget him after forcibly giving up all searching for him here and there.” We cannot forget him because of his footprints marked with symbols (niketaiḥ) of beauty or all wealth (śrī) like the flag. Those foot prints are everywhere, with great variety according to the differing pastimes. The word padakaiḥ is used to indicate that the foot prints were small. Even now they continue to exist, though made previously.
- What 'footprints' in your environment quietly sustain your remembrance?
- Where could you cultivate more such physical traces?
The footprints marked with cakra, dhvaja, vajra remain in the dust. Vraja itself becomes a smaraṇa-instrument. The gopīs cannot forget Him because the ground itself refuses to.
When Caitanya Mahāprabhu first reached Vṛndāvana, He went mad seeing every detail — the dust, the trees, the river — as marked by Kṛṣṇa's body. Caitanya-caritāmṛta records Him rolling in the dust, weeping, embracing trees.
Gauḍīyas read this verse as Mahāprabhu's own experience: Vraja is not an empty memory but an active sacrament. The footprints are still there.
My note
Source: vedabase.io