A Rasa Panchdhyayi folio of the Bhagvata Purana shows gopis enacting Krishna’s sports. Which of the following pairs of a gopi and the part she plays in this folio is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Gopi enacting Krishna – bends forward to suck the bosom of the gopi playing Putana
Option (1) Gopi enacting Krishna playing the flute – dances on a blue garment shaped as the serpent Kaliya — Incorrect. The gopi enacting Krishna with the flute is at the bottom left, where some gopis dance and sing. The dance on the blue garment shaped as Kaliya is by another gopi, at the extreme bottom right.
Option (2) Gopi enacting Krishna – bends forward to suck the bosom of the gopi playing Putana — Correct. On the extreme left, a gopi enacting Krishna bends forward and appears to suck the bosom of the gopi playing Putana.
Option (3) Gopi sporting a turban – enacts the mortar to which young Krishna is tied — Incorrect. The gopi in a turban lifts her piled up odhni as Mount Govardhan. The mortar is enacted by a different gopi.
Option (4) Gopi enacting Yashoda – holds out her garment to remove the evil eye after Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan — Incorrect. The gopi enacting Yashoda holds out her garment after the young Krishna killed Putana. Lifting Mount Govardhan is enacted by a gopi in a turban, in another group.
NCERT (2026-27): “Re-enacting Krishna’s deeds …On the extreme left, a gopi enacts Krishna’s part as she bends forward and appears to suck the bosom of another gopi, who plays the role of Putana and raises her hand to the head in response, as if dying while her breath is being sucked away. Next to them, another gopi enacts the character of Yashoda, who along with other gopis, holds out her garment in a gesture of removing the evil eye after the young Krishna performed the brave feat of killing Putana.” |