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

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 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 10 · Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa
10.11.31-3210.11.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.11.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गोप्यो रूढरथा नूत्नकुचकुङ्कुमकान्तय: ।

कृष्णलीला जगु: प्रीत्या निष्ककण्ठ्य: सुवासस: ॥ ३३ ॥

gopyo rūḍha-rathā nūtna-

kuca-kuṅkuma-kāntayaḥ

kṛṣṇa-līlā jaguḥ prītyā

niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ

Translation

The cowherd women, riding on the bullock carts, were dressed very nicely with excellent garments, and their bodies, especially their breasts, were decorated with fresh kuṅkuma powder. As they rode, they began to chant with great pleasure the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Joyfully Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes

  1. 1

    The cowherd women rode on bullock carts, dressed very nicely in excellent garments.

  2. 2

    Their bodies were decorated with fresh kuṅkuma powder.

  3. 3

    As they traveled, they chanted the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa with great pleasure.

How it feels

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In Vṛndāvana, both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, after finishing Their childhood pastimes, began to take charge of the calves and send them to the pasturing grounds ( go-caraṇa). During this time, a demon named Vatsāsura entered among the calves and was killed, and another asura, in the shape of a big duck, was also killed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gopyaḥall the cowherd women
  2. rūḍha-rathāḥwhile riding on the bullock carts
  3. nūtna-kuca-kuṅkuma-kāntayaḥtheir bodies, especially their breasts, were decorated with fresh kuṅkuma
  4. kṛṣṇa-līlāḥthe pastimes of Kṛṣṇa
  5. jaguḥthey chanted
  6. prītyāwith great pleasure
  7. niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥdecorated with lockets on their necks
  8. su-vāsasaḥvery well dressed
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “chant”, “chanted”

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 could I make time during an ordinary journey to remember Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes?

Practice

During a quiet moment today, recite this verse’s description of the women joyfully chanting about Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayJoyfully Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s PastimesThis 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 10.11.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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