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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 19: Swallowing the Forest Fire
10.19.1510.20.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.19.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.19.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गोपीनां परमानन्द आसीद् गोविन्ददर्शने ।

क्षणं युगशतमिव यासां येन विनाभवत् ॥ १६ ॥

gopīnāṁ paramānanda

āsīd govinda-darśane

kṣaṇaṁ yuga-śatam iva

yāsāṁ yena vinābhavat

Translation

The young gopīs took the greatest pleasure in seeing Govinda come home, since for them even a moment without His association seemed like a hundred ages.

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 Joy of Seeing Govinda

  1. 1

    The young gopīs took the greatest pleasure in seeing Govinda come home. Even a moment without His association seemed like a hundred ages.

  2. 2

    After saving the cowherd boys from the forest fire, Kṛṣṇa saved the cowherd girls from the blazing fire of separation from Him.

  3. 3

    The gopīs, headed by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, have the greatest love for Kṛṣṇa. They are the greatest devotees of God.

Key points from the purport
  • After saving the cowherd boys from the blazing forest fire, Kṛṣṇa saved the cowherd girls from the blazing fire of separation from Him.
  • The gopīs, headed by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, have the greatest love for Kṛṣṇa, and even a single moment’s separation from Him seems like millions of years to them.
  • The gopīs are the greatest devotees of God, and their specific pastimes with Kṛṣṇa will be described later in this work.

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 19: Swallowing the Forest Fire

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Seeing this wonderful display of mystic potency, the cowherd boys thought Kṛṣṇa must be a demigod, and they began to praise Him. Then they all returned home.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gopīnāmfor the young cowherd girls
  2. parama-ānandaḥthe greatest happiness
  3. āsītarose
  4. govinda-darśanein seeing Govinda
  5. kṣaṇama moment
  6. yuga-śatama hundred millenniums
  7. ivajust as
  8. yāsāmfor whom
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 10.19

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.19

    In this verse: “love”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.19

    In this verse: “saved”

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 does the gopīs’ joy in seeing Govinda reveal about how deeply they value His association?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute today to remember Govinda’s return home and the gopīs’ happiness at seeing Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Joy of Seeing GovindaThis 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 10.19.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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