Gopalavimshati

The Gopalavimshati (Sanskrit: गोपालविंशति, romanized: Gopālaviṃśati) is a Sanskrit hymn written by the Hindu philosopher Vedanta Desika.^[1] Comprising 21 verses, the Gopalavimshati extols Krishna, an avatar of the deity Vishnu. The hymn is composed in a number of poetic metres, expressive of the themes of faith and the philosophical idealisation of the deity. The first stanza of the hymn forms the prologue of Vedanta Desika's epic poem, theYadavabhyudaya.^[2][3]

Gopalavimshati
18th century painting of Krishna playing the flute with the gopis, Cleveland Museum of Art.
Information
Religion	Hinduism
Author	Vedanta Desika
Language	Sanskrit
Verses	21

Etymology

Gopala is an epithet of Krishna, literally meaning, "protector of cows",^[4] and vimshati means "twenty".^[5]

Description

Vedanta Desika is regarded to have composed this work when he visited the temple of Krishna located at Tiruvahindrapuram.^[6] The hymn includes the descriptions of the body of Krishna that are meant to evoke devotion in the reader. The work is written in a tone of wonder at the numerous forms of the deity, offering imagery in his role of a mischievous child, a toddler who steals butter, a trickster, dancer, a cowherd who plays the flute, a slayer of malicious beings, as well as a handsome lover of the gopis, all the while concealing his divinity. These identities of the deity are juxtaposed, both conceived as a child and God, great and small, and an unknowable entity and an intimate lover.^[7] It is also noted for its description of the deity's navanīta-nāṭya (butter dance).^[8]

Hymn

In one of the stanzas of the hymn, the poet exclaims his love for Krishna:^[9]

You are the shortest path
to liberation,
a dark monsoon cloud
that hangs over the forest
raining
joy and wealth
A bamboo flute thrills at the touch
of your ruddy
lower lip:
I love you
and worship you,
root cause of creation
pure compassion
in the body
of a man.

— Gopalavimshati, Stanza 9

See also

• Yadavabhyudaya
• Hamsa Sandesha
• Paduka Sahasra

References

1. University, Vijaya Ramaswamy, Jawaharlal Nehru (2007-05-22). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Scarecrow Press. p. 301. ISBN 978-0-8108-6445-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Dr.Satyavrata Singh (1958). Vedanta Desika. p. 55.
3. Vaijayanti Press, Madras. A History Of The Classical Sanskrit Literature By M. Krishnamacharya, Mano Ranjani Series No. 7, 1906, Madras Vaijayanti Press, Madras. p. 124.
4. Krishna, Nanditha (2014-05-01). Sacred Animals of India. Penguin UK. p. 111. ISBN 978-81-8475-182-6.
5. Jazayery, Mohammad Ali; Winter, Werner (2010-11-05). Languages and Cultures: Studies in Honor of Edgar C. Polomé. Walter de Gruyter. p. 196. ISBN 978-3-11-086435-9.
6. Rangarajan, Prof G. (2023-02-27). Footprints In The Sands Of Time - Vedantha Desika. Pustaka Digital Media. p. 41.
7. Hopkins, Steven P. (2007-10-18). An Ornament for Jewels: Love Poems For The Lord of Gods, by Vedantadesika. Oxford University Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-19-804372-0.
8. Padmaja, T. (2002). Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu. Abhinav Publications. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-7017-398-4.
9. Francis Bryant, Edwin (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 296.