Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Pūrva 45
॥
Devanāgarī
वल्लवीवदनाम्भोज मालिने नृत्यशालिने ।
नमः प्रणत पालाय श्रीकृष्णाय नमो नमः
Transliteration (IAST)
vallavīvadanāmbhoja māline nṛtyaśāline |
namaḥ praṇata pālāya śrīkṛṣṇāya namo namaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
वल्लवीवदनाम्भोज मालिनेvallavīvadanāmbhoja mālinewearing a garland of the lotus-faces of the cowherd women; crowned with the gopīs' faces as with lotuses
नृत्यशालिनेnṛtyaśālineto Him whose habit is the dance; accustomed to dancing
नमः प्रणत पालायnamaḥ praṇata pālāyaobeisance to the protector of those who bow; homage to Him who guards the prostrate
श्रीकृष्णाय नमो नमःśrīkṛṣṇāya namo namaḥto Śrī Kṛṣṇa obeisance and obeisance; to Śrī Kṛṣṇa homage again and again
Translation
To Him who wears a garland of lotuses — the faces of the cowherd women — to Him whose habit is the dance, obeisance; to the protector of those who bow before Him, to Śrī Kṛṣṇa obeisance and obeisance.
Version
84e31fe76725 · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:22:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse's first image is among the boldest in all of śruti: the faces of the cowherd women who have surrounded Him in the dance are called the lotuses of which His garland is woven. Only a moment ago, in verse 41, the lotuses were His own eyes and adornment; now the faces of those who love Him have become His garland.
The second name is nṛtya-śālin, "He whose habit is the dance": again the word śīla, "disposition", as with the flute. The dance is called not an event but a trait.
And the third name shifts the verse into another key: praṇata-pāla, "protector of those who bow". Praṇata is one who has bowed, who has fallen at His feet; pāla is a herdsman guarding a flock, and a protector generally. He who dances among the cowherd women is called the defender of everyone who has bowed before Him.
This neighbourhood is the thought of the verse: nearness does not cancel protection, and protection does not require distance.
For the first time in the hymn the name "Śrī Kṛṣṇa" sounds, with the prefix of reverence; from here on it will be repeated to the end.