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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
10.15.210.15.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.15.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्मञ्जुघोषालिमृगद्विजाकुलं

महन्मन:प्रख्यपय:सरस्वता ।

वातेन जुष्टं शतपत्रगन्धिना

निरीक्ष्य रन्तुं भगवान् मनो दधे ॥ ३ ॥

tan mañju-ghoṣāli-mṛga-dvijākulaṁ

mahan-manaḥ-prakhya-payaḥ-sarasvatā

vātena juṣṭaṁ śata-patra-gandhinā

nirīkṣya rantuṁ bhagavān mano dadhe

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead looked over that forest, which resounded with the charming sounds of bees, animals and birds, and which was enhanced by a lake whose clear water resembled the minds of great souls and by a breeze carrying the fragrance of hundred-petaled lotuses. Seeing all this, Lord Kṛṣṇa decided to enjoy the auspicious atmosphere.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Forest Serves the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, saw that the Vṛndāvana forest gave pleasure to all five senses.

  2. 2

    Bees, birds and animals made charming sounds. The wind faithfully served the Lord by carrying cool moisture from the clear lake, sweetness and the fragrance of lotuses.

  3. 3

    The forest’s heavenly beauty gave spiritual bliss to the eyes. Seeing this auspicious atmosphere, Kṛṣṇa decided to enjoy it.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa saw that the Vṛndāvana forest was giving pleasure to all five senses.
  • The bees, birds, and animals made charming sounds that brought sweet pleasure to the ears.
  • The wind was faithfully rendering service to the Lord by blowing throughout the forest, carrying the cool moisture of a transparent lake and thus giving pleasure to the sense of touch.

The purport'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

Peril and pride → Friendship and humility. Divinity is revealed amid intimate childhood play.

Chapters 12–19 of Canto 10: Childhood dangers and Brahmā's amazement. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Revealing Their boyhood ( paugaṇḍa) phase of pastimes, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa were one day bringing the cows to pasture when They entered an attractive forest decorated with a clear lake. There They began playing forest sports along with Their friends.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat forest
  2. mañjucharming
  3. ghoṣawhose sounds
  4. aliwith bees
  5. mṛgaanimals
  6. dvijaand birds
  7. ākulamfilled
  8. mahatof great souls
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 10.15

    In this verse: “sweetness”

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 can the wind’s faithful service teach me about serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Reread the forest description slowly, noticing how each sensory detail contributes to the Lord’s pleasure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Forest Serves the Supreme LordThis 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 10.15.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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