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Swami Desikan"s Gopala Vimsathi: Part 6

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • September 7, 1996 


Verse 18 : The beauty of Rajagopala Svaroopam 

LEELAYASHTIM KARAKISALAYEH 
DAKSHINEH NYASYA DHANYAAM 
AMSEH DEVYAA: PULAKARUCHIREH 
SANNIVISHTAANYA BAAHU : I
MEGASHYAMOH JAYATHI LALITHOH
MEGALAA DHATTHA VENU:
GUNJAAPEETA SPURITHA SIKUROH
GOPAKANYAA BHUJANGA: II

Lord Gopalan showing great affection for the Gopis
stands before them in resplendent attire .
He strikes a pose at that time 
with his tender right hand holding the sheperd's
bent  stick ;his left hand rests on the shoulder of 
the beautiful Nappinnai ; that touch of Gopalan sends shivers of joy  
over Nappinnai's body . That beautiful Gopalan has tucked his flute 
inside his waist band and has additional decoration 
in the form of a chain of Kunrimani beads 
tied across his own dark hair pulled up  in the form of a bun . 
He shines with his dark blue hue, reminiscent of the clouds 
in the rainy season and wins over the  Gopis with his formidable 
beauty  . He roams around with great desire for union with Gopis.  

Verse 19 : The Jala Kreeta of Gopalan

PRATYAALEETA STHITHIMADHIGATHAAM 
PRAPTHAGAATAANGAPAALEEM
PASCHAADHEESHAN MILITHA NAYANAAM
PRAYASEEM PREKSHAMAANA: I
BHASTHRAA YANTRA PRANIHITA KAROH
BHAKTHAJEEVAATHURAVYAATH 
VAARI KREETAA NIBITA VASANOH
VALLAVI VALLABOH NA: II

Gopalan desirous of performing water sports 
with the Gopis tucked tightly his garments .He took 
in his hands the water pump used in those sports.
He approached one of the Gopis , who was standing  with one foot 
forward in the water and the other planted backward on the land .,
He  surprised her from behind and embraced her tightly .
That Gopi was overpowered by that delectable experience
and partially closed her eyes and looked at Gopalan with half-open eyes. 
He returned her affectionate glances .Their eyes met. May that 
Gopala engaged in water sports with the Gopis as their lover
protect us , since he is the medicine for his devotees suffering from 
the afflictions of Samsaara .

Verse 20 : Krishna stealing the clothes of Gopis 

VAASOH HRUTHVAA DINAKARA SUTHA
SAMNIDHAOU VALLAVEENAAM 
LEELAASMEROH JAYATHI LALITHAAM
AASTHITHA: KUNTHASAAKHAAM I
SAVREETAABHI: TADHANU VASANEH
TAABHIRABHAYARTHYAMAANEH 
KAAMI KASCHITH KARA KAMALAYOH:
ANJALIM YAACHAMAANA: II

On the banks of the Yamuna river shines the
Lord , who is seated on the bow of a  Kunthaa 
tree with a smile on his face . He is enjoying the prank that 
he played on the unsuspecting Gopis , who had left their
clothes on the river bank and were engaged in taking
morning abolutions. He wanted to teach them a lesson for 
breaking the rules of Sastras, which forbid one from 
taking bath in the river without wearing a cloth . Gopalan
sneaked up on the crowd of Gopis deeply absorbed in 
water sports and took all of their clothes and climbed up
the Kuntha tree and sat on one of its branch and waited for them 
to come out of the water. The unaware  Gopis completed their 
water sports and abolutions and got out of the water and discovered  
that  there clothes were removed by the smiling Gopalan sitting on 
the adjascent  Pinnai (Kuntha) tree . Overcome by modesty , they rushed 
back into the water and prayed to him to return their clothes.
He commanded them to come out of the water with folded hands 
raised above their hands as a mark of atonement for the sin of breaking
the injunctions of Saastras . They had no choice , but to obey him to
regain their clothes. May that mischievous  Gopalan fond of Gopis be victorious
!

verse 21 : Pala Sruthi of Gopala Vimsathi 

ITHYANANYAMANASAA VINIRMITHAAM 
VENKATESA KAVINAA STHUTHIM PATAN I
DIVYA VENU RASIKAM SAMEEKSHATEH
DAIVATHAM KIMAPI YOWATHA PRIYAM II

This stotram has been created by the poet 
Venkatesa , who does not consider any God 
other than Gopala/Naraayana .Those who read and 
recite this eulogy will have the blessings of the Darsanam 
of the God of incomparable beauty , Venugopalan ,
 Who was  the keen  object of desire of  youthful Gopis .

Swami Sri Nigamaantha Maha Desikan Thiruvadigaleh SaraNam.
Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan
September 7 , 1996.