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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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
10.15.4110.15.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.42

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd boyssince 10.15.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं गोरजश्छुरितकुन्तलबद्धबर्ह-

वन्यप्रसूनरुचिरेक्षणचारुहासम् ।

वेणुम्क्वणन्तमनुगैरुपगीतकीर्तिं

गोप्यो दिद‍ृक्षितद‍ृशोऽभ्यगमन् समेता: ॥ ४२ ॥

taṁ gorajaś-churita-kuntala-baddha-barha-

vanya-prasūna-rucirekṣaṇa-cāru-hāsam

veṇum kvaṇantam anugair upagīta-kīrtiṁ

gopyo didṛkṣita-dṛśo ’bhyagaman sametāḥ

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa’s hair, powdered with the dust raised by the cows, was decorated with a peacock feather and forest flowers. The Lord glanced charmingly and smiled beautifully, playing upon His flute while His companions chanted His glories. The gopīs, all together, came forward to meet Him, their eyes very eager to see Him.

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.

Loving Service to Beautiful Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s hair was dusted by the cows and adorned with a peacock feather and forest flowers. He smiled beautifully and played His flute while His companions chanted His glories.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all living beings are His eternal servants. The pure-hearted gopīs therefore did not hesitate to approach Him, despite the outward reasons for shyness.

  3. 3

    The gopīs eagerly drank in the sight of beautiful Kṛṣṇa. They also relished His flute’s sweet sound and His body’s enchanting fragrance.

Key points from the purport
  • Superficially, the gopīs were young married girls, and therefore they would naturally be ashamed and fearful of casting loving glances at a beautiful young boy like Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • Thus the gopīs, although the most pure-hearted of all great souls, did not hesitate to come forward and satisfy their love-struck eyes by drinking in the sight of beautiful young Kṛṣṇa.
  • The gopīs also relished the sweet sound of His flute and the enchanting fragrance of His body.

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:

Lord Rāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa, hearing of the situation, set off for this forest to fulfill the desire of Their companions. Arriving at the Tālavana, Lord Balarāma shook many fruits out of the palm trees, and as soon as He did so the jackass demon, Dhenuka, ran swiftly to attack Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. go-rajaḥwith the dust raised by the cows
  3. churitasmeared
  4. kuntalawithin His locks of hair
  5. baddhaplaced
  6. barhaa peacock feather
  7. vanya-prasūnawith forest flowers
  8. rucira-īkṣaṇacharming eyes
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “companions”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “chanted”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “sweet”

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 does remembering that you are Kṛṣṇa’s eternal servant shape your desire to approach Him?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s appearance as described here, with the desire to serve Him.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.15's connections

Live this todayLoving Service to Beautiful KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.15.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.