FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.33.15

కర్ణోత్పలాలకవిటఙ్కకపోలఘర్మ- వక్త్రశ్రియో వలయనూపురఘోషవాద్యై: । గోప్య: సమం భగవతా ననృతు: స్వకేశ- స్రస్తస్రజో భ్రమరగాయకరాసగోష్ఠ్యామ్ ॥ ౧౫ ॥
karṇotpalālaka-viṭaṅka-kapola-gharma-
[karnotpalaalaka-vitanka-kapola-gharma-]
vaktra-śriyo valaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ
[vaktra-shriyo valaya-noopura-ghosha-vaadyaih]
gopyaḥ samaṁ bhagavatā nanṛtuḥ sva-keśa-
[gopyah samam bhagavataa nanrituh sva-kesha-]
srasta-srajo bhramara-gāyaka-rāsa-goṣṭhyām
[srasta-srajo bhramara-gaayaka-raasa-goshthyaam]
karṇa — upon their ears utpala — with the lotus flowers alaka — by locks of their hair vitaṅka — decorated kapola — their cheeks gharma — with perspiration vaktra — of their faces śriyaḥ — the beauty valaya — of their armlets nūpura — and ankle bells ghoṣa — of the reverberation vādyaiḥ — with the musical sound gopyaḥ — the gopīs samam — together bhagavatā — with the Personality of Godhead nanṛtuḥ — danced sva — their own keśa — from the hair srasta — scattered srajaḥ — the garlands bhramara — the bees gāyaka — singers rāsa — of the rāsa dance goṣṭhyām — in the assembly .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
karṇotpalālaka-viṭaṅka-kapola-gharma-
karṇa
upon their ears
utpala
with the lotus flowers
alaka
by locks of their hair
vitaṅka
decorated
kapola
their cheeks
gharma
with perspiration
vaktra-śriyo valaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ
vaktra
of their faces
śriyaḥ
the beauty
valaya
of their armlets
nūpura
and ankle bells
ghoṣa
of the reverberation
vādyaiḥ
with the musical sound
gopyaḥ samaṁ bhagavatā nanṛtuḥ sva-keśa-
gopyaḥ
the gopīs
samam
together
bhagavatā
with the Personality of Godhead
nanṛtuḥ
danced
sva
their own
keśa
from the hair
srasta-srajo bhramara-gāyaka-rāsa-goṣṭhyām
srasta
scattered
srajaḥ
the garlands
bhramara
the bees
gāyaka
singers
rāsa
of the rāsa dance
goṣṭhyām
in the assembly .
  • gharma-vaktra-śriyaḥ — whose facial beauty (came from) perspiration
    Sub-compound. Gharma (sweat) + vaktra (face) + śrī (beauty). Sveda — perspiration — is another of the aṣṭa-sāttvika-bhāvas. The body's involuntary signs of prema become its very ornament. Pure Gauḍīya rasa-śāstra in one word.
  • bhramara-gāyaka — with bees as singers
    Bhramara (bee) + gāyaka (singer). The forest sings along. Gauḍīyas: the bhauma-Vṛndāvana is not stage scenery — every creature is rasa-conscious participant in the rāsa-līlā.
  • rāsa-goṣṭhyām — in the assembly of the rāsa dance
    Goṣṭhī = assembly, gathering. Same word used by Rūpa Gosvāmī for sat-saṅga of devotees. Here the rāsa is called goṣṭhī — the prototype of every assembly of bhaktas around Kṛṣṇa.
Enhancing the beauty of the gopīs ’ faces were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of perspiration. The reverberation of their armlets and ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their chaplets scattered. Thus the gopīs danced with the Supreme Lord in the arena of the rāsa dance as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Enhancing the beauty of the gopīs' faces were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of perspiration. The reverberation of their armlets and ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their chaplets scattered. Thus the gopīs danced with the Supreme Lord in the arena of the rāsa dance as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment.
Commentary

After describing the beauty of the various elements of song and dance, the beauty of the gopis enhanced by the dancing is described. They had earrings (karna utpala), their locks of hair swayed with the movements of the dancing. Perspiration appeared on their foreheads. All of this intensified the beauty of their faces as they danced. The sound of their bangles and ankle bells surpassed the music of instruments. Instruments such as drums and flutes also were played. The presiding deities of the instruments all appeared there to make their lives successful. However the instruments sounded without anyone having to play them. The garlands tied in their hair loosened and fell to the ground, as if the hair arrangements, pleased with the skilful dance steps of the gopis, were throwing down flowers in appreciation of their feet.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Their greatness is shown in two verses. Though they became tired from dancing, they became most beautiful. The reason for dancing is described. Since Kṛṣṇa displayed the highest essence of his unlimited sweetness (bhagavatā), they developed the highest bliss with him, since the gopīs were famous for being controlled by love for Kṛṣṇa alone. Being with him, they also displayed similar beauty and other qualities. And like them, he wore ornaments such as lotuses in his ears. The bees were remarkable because they were able to singing suitably for this occasion. Śrīdhara Svāmī says that at this time the musicians from the heavenly planets also played drums suitable for the occasion. He also includes Kinnaras since “inhabitants of the sky” were mentioned in verse 4. The gopīs did not depend on any other persons for singing or music however. They played and sang to express their joy.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Their greatness is shown in two verses. Though they became tired from dancing, they became most beautiful. The reason for dancing is described. Since Kṛṣṇa displayed the highest essence of his unlimited sweetness (bhagavatā), they developed the highest bliss with him, since the gopīs were famous for being controlled by love for Kṛṣṇa alone. Being with him, they also displayed similar beauty and other qualities. And like them, he wore ornaments such as lotuses in his ears. Śrīdhara Svāmī says that at this time the musicians from the heavenly planets also played drums suitable for the occasion. He also includes Kinnaras since “inhabitants of the sky” were mentioned in verse 4. Or this verse shows what was previously mentioned: that they were superior to Lakṣmī. Or previously the male Gandharvas had sung. Now at the beginning of the dance, they did not depend on others for singing and instruments. Or previously the songs of the Gandharvas and the music from their bangles were described. Now, even without that singing or sound of the bangles they danced. Valaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ can be taken as a negative: avalaya-nūpura-ghoṣa-vādyaiḥ. This is because, absorbed in the dance, they would deviate from the music. Thus even the bees did not hum at this time (abhramara-gāyaka). The garlands in their hair scattered because their hair worshipped his feet by scattering the flowers.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)
Related verses

Bees are drawn to the lotus by fragrance alone — they need no instruction. So at the rāsa the bees sang, the garlands scattered, perspiration ornamented every face — the whole forest knew the choreography because it is the forest's own original mood.

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