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Gopika Gita

Gopika Gita in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning or evening; especially on Sharad Purnima, Janmashtami and Ekadashi·📜 Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Tenth Canto, Chapter 31

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Gopika Gita, or Gopi Gita, is the impassioned song of the gopis of Vrindavan, recorded in the Thirty-first Chapter of the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. During the Rasa-lila, Krishna suddenly disappears to humble the gopis' pride, and, scorched by separation, they wander the forest singing this song of longing, praising His beauty, recalling how He has protected them, and begging Him to return and place His lotus hand and feet upon them. It is treasured as one of the supreme expressions of pure, selfless love for God (prema-bhakti) and of the soul's yearning in separation from the Divine.

Origin & Story

Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Tenth Canto, Chapter 31 · Veda Vyasa (the song of the gopis; narrated by Shuka to King Parikshit) · Puranic

The Gopika Gita appears in the Rasa-lila section (the 'Rasa Panchadhyayi') of the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. On the full-moon night of autumn, Krishna called the gopis of Vrindavan to dance with Him in the forest by the Yamuna. When a trace of pride arose in them, Krishna disappeared to teach them humility and to intensify their love. Maddened with separation, the gopis searched the forest, even asking the trees and creepers where their beloved had gone. Finally, gathering on the bank of the Yamuna, they sang together this song of longing and surrender — nineteen verses recalling Krishna's beauty, His protection of them, and their utter dependence on Him, imploring Him to return. Moved by their selfless love, Krishna reappeared in their midst.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the gopis' love expressed in this song is so pure and selfless that it draws the Lord irresistibly back to His devotees; moved by their longing, Krishna at once reappeared among them, declaring that He could never repay the debt of their unalloyed love. Devotees believe that to sing the Gopi Gita with a sincere, yearning heart awakens that same nearness of the Lord.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

gopya ūcuḥ - jayati te'dhikaṃ janmanā vrajaḥ śrayata indirā śaśvad-atra hi | dayita dṛśyatāṃ dikṣu tāvakās- tvayi dhṛtāsavas-tvāṃ vicinvate ||

Meaning:The gopis said: The land of Vraja is glorified above all by Your having taken birth here, and so the goddess of fortune dwells here forever. O beloved, look upon us — Your devotees, who have given our very lives to You and search for You in every direction.

Verse 2

śarad-udāśaye sādhu-jāta-sat- sarasijodara-śrī-muṣā dṛśā | surata-nātha te'śulka-dāsikā varada nighnato neha kiṃ vadhaḥ ||

Meaning:O Lord of our love, You wound us with a glance more beautiful than the whorl of a perfect lotus blooming in an autumn pond. Since we are Your maidservants, won by You without any price, is it not murder to slay us this way, O giver of boons?

Verse 3

viṣa-jalāpyayād-vyāla-rākṣasād- varṣa-mārutād-vaidyutānalāt | vṛṣa-mayātmajād-viśvato-bhayād- ṛṣabha te vayaṃ rakṣitā muhuḥ ||

Meaning:O best of persons, again and again You have saved us — from the poisoned water of the Yamuna, from the serpent Kaliya and from demons, from the deadly rains and gale and lightning-fire of Indra, from the bull-demon and the son of Maya — from every danger in the world.

Verse 4

na khalu gopikā-nandano bhavān- akhila-dehinām-antarātma-dṛk | vikhanasārthito viśva-guptaye sakha udeyivān-sātvatāṃ kule ||

Meaning:O friend, You are not truly only the son of the cowherd Yashoda; You are the indwelling witness within all embodied beings. Prayed to by Brahma, You have descended among the Satvatas for the protection of the universe.

Verse 5

viracitābhayaṃ vṛṣṇi-dhūrya te caraṇam-īyuṣāṃ saṃsṛter-bhayāt | kara-saroruhaṃ kānta kāma-daṃ śirasi dhehi naḥ śrī-kara-graham ||

Meaning:O best of the Vrishnis, Your lotus hand bestows fearlessness and fulfils all desires upon those who approach Your feet out of fear of worldly existence — it is the very hand that took the hand of Shri (Lakshmi). O beloved, place that hand upon our heads.

Verse 6

vraja-janārti-han-vīra yoṣitāṃ nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṃsana-smita | bhaja sakhe bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ sma no jala-ruhānanaṃ cāru darśaya ||

Meaning:O hero who destroys the suffering of Vraja's people, O You whose smile shatters the pride of Your own devotees — accept us, Your maidservants, O friend, and show us Your lovely lotus face.

Verse 7

praṇata-dehināṃ pāpa-karśanaṃ tṛṇa-carānugaṃ śrī-niketanam | phaṇi-phaṇārpitaṃ te padāmbujaṃ kṛṇu kuceṣu naḥ kṛndhi hṛc-chayam ||

Meaning:Your lotus feet destroy the sins of the embodied souls who bow to them, follow the cows through the pastures, are the abode of Lakshmi, and were placed upon the hoods of the serpent Kaliya — place those feet upon our breasts and tear away the lust that burns within our hearts.

Verse 8

madhurayā girā valgu-vākyayā budha-manojñayā puṣkarekṣaṇa | vidhi-karīr-imā vīra muhyatīr- adhara-sīdhunāpyāyayasva naḥ ||

Meaning:O lotus-eyed one, Your sweet voice and charming words, enchanting even to the wise, bewilder us. O hero, revive Your maidservants with the nectar of Your lips.

Verse 9

tava kathāmṛtaṃ tapta-jīvanaṃ kavibhir-īḍitaṃ kalmaṣāpaham | śravaṇa-maṅgalaṃ śrīmad-ātataṃ bhuvi gṛṇanti te bhūri-dā janāḥ ||

Meaning:The nectar of Your stories is life itself to those scorched by the miseries of this world; it is sung by the great sages, it wipes away all sins, and to hear it is supremely auspicious and full of grace. Those who spread these narrations upon the earth are truly the most generous of benefactors.

Verse 10

prahasitaṃ priya prema-vīkṣaṇaṃ viharaṇaṃ ca te dhyāna-maṅgalam | rahasi saṃvido yā hṛdi-spṛśaḥ kuhaka no manaḥ kṣobhayanti hi ||

Meaning:Your smiles, O beloved, Your loving glances, and the pastimes You enjoy — to meditate on them is auspicious; and the intimate talks that once touched our hearts in secret stir our minds, O deceiver.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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jayati te'dhikaṃ janmanā vrajaḥ🔊the land of Vraja is supremely glorified by Your birth (and play) within it

śrayata indirā śaśvad atra hi🔊for here Indira (Lakshmi, goddess of fortune) resides forever

dayita dṛśyatāṃ🔊O beloved, please show Yourself

tvayi dhṛtāsavas tvāṃ vicinvate🔊we who have placed our very life in You are searching everywhere for You

śarad-udāśaye🔊in the autumn pond / clear autumn waters

sarasija-udara-śrī-muṣā dṛśā🔊with a glance that steals the beauty of the heart of the lotus

surata-nātha te'śulka-dāsikāḥ🔊O Lord of love, we are Your maidservants, won without any price

varada nighnato neha kiṃ vadhaḥ🔊O giver of boons, is it not slaughter to wound us thus?

viṣa-jala-apyayāt🔊from the poisoned water (of the Yamuna, by Kaliya)

vyāla-rākṣasāt🔊from the serpent and the demons (Agha, Baka, etc.)

varṣa-mārutād vaidyutānalāt🔊from the rains, the storm-wind (of Indra) and the lightning-fire

ṛṣabha te vayaṃ rakṣitā muhuḥ🔊O best of persons, we have been protected by You again and again

na khalu gopikā-nandano bhavān🔊You are not merely the son of a cowherd woman (Yashoda)

akhila-dehinām antarātma-dṛk🔊You are the inner witness of all embodied beings

vikhanasā arthito viśva-guptaye🔊prayed to by Brahma, You descended for the protection of the universe

kara-saroruhaṃ śirasi dhehi naḥ🔊place Your lotus hand upon our heads

vraja-jana-arti-han🔊O destroyer of the distress of the people of Vraja

jala-ruha-ānanaṃ cāru darśaya🔊show us Your beautiful lotus face

tava kathāmṛtaṃ tapta-jīvanaṃ🔊the nectar of Your stories is life itself to those burning (in the fire of material existence)

kavibhir īḍitaṃ kalmaṣāpaham🔊praised by the sages and poets, it removes all sin

śravaṇa-maṅgalaṃ śrīmad-ātataṃ🔊auspicious to hear, full of spiritual richness, ever-spreading

te bhūri-dā janāḥ🔊those who recite and spread it are the most munificent of givers

Benefits of Chanting Gopika Gita

✦

Considered one of the highest expressions of pure, selfless love (prema-bhakti) for the Lord

✦

Awakens intense longing and devotion for Sri Krishna in the heart

✦

Cherished by devotees for cultivating the mood of loving separation (viraha)

✦

The hymn itself declares that hearing and reciting Krishna's glories removes all sins

✦

Brings peace to a heart scorched by the troubles of worldly existence

✦

Held to invoke the Lord's nearness and the longing that draws Him to His devotees

✦

Cherished in the Vaishnava tradition as the gopis' supreme prayer of surrender

How to Chant Gopika Gita

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning or evening; especially on Sharad Purnima, Janmashtami and Ekadashi

Bathe and sit before an image of Sri Krishna, ideally in the evening or at dawn. Recite the Gopika Gita slowly, entering the mood of the gopis' loving longing for the Lord. It is sung melodiously by devotees, particularly on Sharad Purnima — the full-moon night of the Rasa-lila. Let the recitation deepen your yearning for the Lord, for the hymn itself teaches that to glorify and hear of Krishna is supremely auspicious and life-giving.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Gopika Gita written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Gopika Gita (also called Gopi Gita) is the song sung by the gopis of Vrindavan in their separation from Lord Krishna, recorded in Chapter 31 of the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. It is one of the most beloved and emotionally powerful devotional hymns in the Vaishnava tradition.

During the Rasa dance on the full-moon night of autumn (Sharad Purnima), Krishna suddenly vanished to curb the gopis' subtle pride and to deepen their love. Overwhelmed by separation, the gopis wandered the forest searching for Him, and out of their anguish and longing they spontaneously sang this song, begging Him to return.

It represents the highest stage of devotion — the soul's selfless, all-consuming love for God and its unbearable longing in separation (viraha). The gopis seek nothing for themselves but the Lord's presence alone, making their love the ideal model of prema-bhakti, pure love untouched by any selfish motive.

It is recited and sung especially on Sharad Purnima, the full-moon night commemorating the Rasa-lila, and during Krishna Janmashtami and on Ekadashi. Devotees also recite it regularly as a meditation on loving devotion to Sri Krishna.