Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Pūrva 49
॥
Devanāgarī
श्रीकृष्ण रुक्मिणीकान्त गोपीजनमनोहर ।
संसार सागरे मग्नं मामुद्धर जगद्गुरो
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīkṛṣṇa rukmiṇīkānta gopījanamanohara |
saṁsāra sāgare magnaṁ māmuddhara jagadguro
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
श्रीकृष्णśrīkṛṣṇaO Śrī Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa
रुक्मिणीकान्तrukmiṇīkāntabeloved of Rukmiṇī; husband of Rukmiṇī
गोपीजनमनोहरgopījanamanoharastealer of the cowherd women's hearts; who captivates the minds of the gopīs
संसार सागरे मग्नम्saṁsāra sāgare magnamsunk in the ocean of the round; plunged in the sea of saṁsāra
माम् उद्धरmām uddharalift me out; draw me forth
जगद्गुरोjagadguroO Teacher of the world; preceptor of the universe
Translation
O Śrī Kṛṣṇa, beloved of Rukmiṇī, stealer of the cowherd women's hearts! Lift me out, sunk in the ocean of the round, O Teacher of the world.
Version
f1baec67a917 · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:22:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The entreaty continues, and the image of the trouble changes: it was a snake-bite, now it is drowning. The word magna, "sunk", speaks not of one floundering near the shore but of one who has already gone under.
The addresses are again chosen with intent. "Beloved of Rukmiṇī" and "stealer of the cowherd women's hearts" are names that speak of tenderness; there is nothing formidable or sovereign in them. The drowning man calls not because He is strong but because He is dear and near.
The last word is jagad-guru, "Teacher of the world". It puts the request in its place: a drowning man needs not only a rescuer but a teacher, since he is drowning through his own ignorance.
Note that Rukmiṇī and the gopīs stand side by side — the queen of Dvārakā and the cowherd women of Vraja. The book neither opposes them nor chooses between them; in a single verse both sides of His life are named.
This verse and the next have passed into common use as independent prayers: they are recited before beginning a work and in trouble.