Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.19.3
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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kṛṣṇa-rāma-ādayaḥ
—
led by Kṛṣṇa and Rāma
Compound: Kṛṣṇa + Rāma (Balarāma) + ādayaḥ (and others). The two brothers are at the head of the search-party — not aloof from the boys' anxiety, but inside it. The Gauḍīya reading of avatāra is precisely this entry into the predicament.
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jāta-anutāpāḥ
—
feeling remorse
Compound: jāta (arisen) + anutāpa (heat-after, regret). A tender Vraja-emotion — sakhya does not protect from the pain of having forgotten a duty. Even Kṛṣṇa, in His role, shares the remorse to deepen the rasa.
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vicinvantaḥ
—
searching out
Intensive of √cit (to perceive, search). The boys move from absorption-in-play to active searching — sakhya's version of smṛti returning after a lapse.
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gatim
—
the path, the going
From √gam. Gati can mean physical path or final destination; the Bhāgavatam often plays on both senses. Here the surface meaning is hoof-track; the undertone is the larger gati Kṛṣṇa is preparing — back to safety, back to Him.
Not seeing the cows, the boys felt very repentant (jatanutapa). They did not know where the animals had gone. The love for the cows covered their knowledge.
Even though the two boys were present the others could not find the cows. The reason is that the two boys wanted to have some fun. Or, he acted as previously: tato vatsān adṛṣṭvaitya puline ’pi ca vatsapān ubhāv api vane kṛṣṇo vicikāya samantataḥ Thereafter, when Kṛṣṇa was unable to find the calves, he returned to the bank of the river, but there he was also unable to see the cowherd boys. Thus he began to search for both the calves and the boys everywhere in the forest. SB 10.13.16 Being absorbed in affectionate pastimes, he also identified with their state of consciousness.
Even though the two boys were present, the others could not find the cows. The reason is that the two boys wanted to have some fun. Balarāma is mentioned after Kṛṣṇa because Kṛṣṇa had a great desire for fun, and Balarāma followed after him. Or Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were first among the cowherds, but even they did not see the cows. This is the nature of a great pastime, to produce excitement in Śukadeva and others following the events. Or their sense of judgment disappeared out of great affection for the cows.
The very sakhās who minutes ago were playing with Kṛṣṇa now feel a sharp pang — they have neglected the cows — and search everywhere without finding them. Even in Vraja, even with Kṛṣṇa standing right there, the sweetness of His company can briefly eclipse a duty He has entrusted; the remorse is itself a feature of sakhya, not a failure of it.
My note
Source: vedabase.io