गोप mfn. (
-पः-पा-पं)
1. A helper, a friend or patron.
2. A preserver, a cherisher.
3. Who or what hides or conceals.
m. (
-पः)
1. Superin- tendent of a district.
2. The head of a cowpen.
3. A herdsman, a [Page246-b+ 60] cowherd, a milkman by caste and occupation.
4. A king.
5. A Myrrh: see
गोपरस.
f. (
-पा or
-पी) A plant, (Echites frutescens) f. (
-पा) A milk-woman, a female cowherd.
f. (
-पी)
1. A cowherd's wife, but especially applied to those of Brindaban, the compani- ons and objects of KRISHNA'S juvenile sports, and who are consid- ered sometimes as holy or celestial personages.
2. A protectress. 3. Nature, elementary nature.
E. गो the earth &c. and
प what preserves; also in some sense
गुप् to hide, to protect, &c. affix
क, fem. affix
टाप् or
ङीष्, गां भूमिं वा पाति रक्षति पा-क . ROOTS:
गो प गुप् क टाप् ङीष् गां भूमिं वा पाति रक्षति पा-क .