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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.7

Who is speaking and story frame

गोपीभि: स्तोभितोऽनृत्यद् भगवान्बालवत्‍क्‍वचित् ।

उद्गायति क्‍वचिन्मुग्धस्तद्वशो दारुयन्त्रवत् ॥ ७ ॥

gopībhiḥ stobhito ’nṛtyad

bhagavān bālavat kvacit

udgāyati kvacin mugdhas

tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat

Translation

The gopīs would say, “If You dance, my dear Kṛṣṇa, then I shall give You half a sweetmeat.” By saying these words or by clapping their hands, all the gopīs encouraged Kṛṣṇa in different ways. At such times, although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, He would smile and dance according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands. Sometimes He would sing very loudly, at their bidding. In this way, Kṛṣṇa came completely under the control of the gopīs.

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.

The Supreme Lord Follows the Gopīs’ Wishes

  1. 1

    The gopīs encouraged Kṛṣṇa to dance by offering half a sweetmeat or clapping their hands.

  2. 2

    Although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa smiled and danced according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands.

  3. 3

    Sometimes He sang very loudly at their bidding. In this way, Kṛṣṇa came completely under the control of the gopīs.

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:

Being surprised, Kṛṣṇa’s father, Nanda, and the other elderly inhabitants of Gokula went to the spot, where they saw the fallen trees and Kṛṣṇa standing between them, bound to the ulūkhala, the wooden mortar. They could find no cause for the trees’ having fallen and Kṛṣṇa’s being there.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gopībhiḥby the gopīs (by flattery and offers of prizes)
  2. stobhitaḥencouraged, induced
  3. anṛtyatthe small Kṛṣṇa danced
  4. bhagavānalthough He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. bāla-vatexactly like a human child
  6. kvacitsometimes
  7. udgāyatiHe would sing very loudly
  8. kvacitsometimes
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “sweetmeat”

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

What touches you about the supremely powerful Lord smiling and following the gopīs’ wishes?

Practice

Read this scene aloud once, giving attention to Kṛṣṇa’s smile and His response to the gopīs.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Follows the Gopīs’ WishesThis 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 10.11.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.