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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 10: Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā
1.10.151.10.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.10.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.10.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

प्रासादशिखरारूढा: कुरुनार्यो दिद‍ृक्षया ।

ववृषु: कुसुमै: कृष्णं प्रेमव्रीडास्मितेक्षणा: ॥ १६ ॥

prāsāda-śikharārūḍhāḥ

kuru-nāryo didṛkṣayā

vavṛṣuḥ kusumaiḥ kṛṣṇaṁ

prema-vrīḍā-smitekṣaṇāḥ

Translation

Out of a loving desire to see the Lord, the royal ladies of the Kurus got up on top of the palace, and smiling with affection and shyness, they showered flowers upon the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Affection Beyond Attraction to the Body

  1. 1

    The royal ladies went to the palace roof out of a loving desire to see Kṛṣṇa. With shy, affectionate smiles, they showered flowers upon Him.

  2. 2

    The purport describes their restricted association with men and their shyness as checks on unrestricted mixing. From the roof, they could still offer their respects to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Human civilization is meant to help us become free from illusion. The purport teaches that the soul’s beauty makes the body attractive, so we should not be captivated by outward beauty.

Key points from the purport
  • Shyness is a particular extra-natural beauty of the fair sex, and it commands respect from the opposite sex.
  • The material beauty of a woman is an illusion because actually the body is made of earth, water, fire, air, etc. But because there is the association of the living spark with matter, it appears to be beautiful.
  • Therefore, the conclusion is that the spirit spark is beautiful, and because of the soul’s beauty one is attracted by the beauty of the outward body.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Longing → Joy and continuity. Departure and welcome coexist; Parīkṣit embodies continuity of grace.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 1: Kṛṣṇa returns to Dvārakā; Parīkṣit is born. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā

Kṛṣṇa leaves Hastināpura for Dvārakā amid His relatives’ affection and praise.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāsādapalace
  2. śikharathe roof
  3. ārūḍhāḥascending
  4. kuru-nāryaḥthe ladies of the Kuru royalty
  5. didṛkṣayāseeing
  6. vavṛṣuḥshowered
  7. kusumaiḥby flowers
  8. kṛṣṇamupon Lord Kṛṣṇa
  9. premaout of affection and love
  10. vrīḍā-smita-īkṣaṇāḥglancing with shy smiles
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.10

    In this verse: “illusion”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.10

    In this verse: “free from”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you turn attention from outward appearance toward affectionate respect for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a flower to Kṛṣṇa today as a simple expression of affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Affection Beyond Attraction to the BodyThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 1.10.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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