The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana

Vṛndāvana’s rainy season and autumn illustrate spiritual teachings through scenes of natural beauty.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Themes of SB 10.20Prema5 Rakṣā5 Sakhya4 Dainya4 from its story phase

Connected storiesAkrūraLord Rāmacandra

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

To enhance the description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes in this chapter the beauty of Vṛndāvana during autumn and the rainy season. In the course of his presentation he gives various charming instructions in metaphorical terms.

In this chapter

Who · Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, the gopīs, Kātyāyanī

The story · As autumn beautified Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa entered the forest with Balarāma, His friends, and the cows. Hearing His flute, the gopīs praised the good fortune of the creatures who could see and hear Him. During the first month of winter, the unmarried gopīs worshiped Kātyāyanī, desiring Kṛṣṇa as their husband. One day Kṛṣṇa took their garments from the riverbank and playfully called them out of the water. Knowing their purpose, He blessed their endeavor.

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa explains that desires fixed upon Him do not produce ordinary material desire for sense gratification. The gopīs’ attention is centered upon Him.

SB 10.21.14 SB 10.22.8 SB 10.22.26 Read chapter 20 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Akrūra

SB 10.38–40 · Akrūra’s journey and vision SB 10.48–49 · Akrūra’s mission to the Pāṇḍavas

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa is kindly disposed toward His surrendered devotees. Akrūra’s prayers teach that the Lord’s appearances remove the unhappiness of those who joyfully chant His glories.

When He was manifest on earth, Lord Kṛṣṇa was surrounded by prominent members of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty such as Nanda, Upananda, Vasudeva and Akrūra.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.20.44 (Text 44)

Read the story in SB 10.38–40

Lord Rāmacandra

SB 9.10–11 · Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes

What it teaches · Hearing Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes frees one from envy and the bondage of fruitive activities. The Lord’s gift of enlightenment within the heart is greater than material wealth.

“When Mahārāja Daśaratha, the father of Lord Rāmacandra, used to fight with his enemies, it was said that he approached them just like a farmer uprooting unnecessary plants and trees.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.20.6 (Text 6)

While Lord Rāma and Lord Keśava were thus dwelling in Vṛndāvana, the fall season arrived, when the sky is cloudless, the water clear and the wind gentle.
In the verse · SB 10.20.32 (Text 32)

Read the story in SB 9.10–11

Next in Learn · 4 of 11 · 5 minStudy a verseOne verse with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and three study points from the purport.Back · LearnPreface & Introduction