1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana
10.20.2910.20.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.20.30-31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शाद्वलोपरि संविश्य चर्वतो मीलितेक्षणान् ।

तृप्तान् वृषान् वत्सतरान् गाश्च स्वोधोभरश्रमा: ॥ ३० ॥

प्रावृट्‍‍श्रियं च तां वीक्ष्य सर्वकालसुखावहाम् ।

भगवान् पूजयां चक्रे आत्मशक्त्युपबृंहिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥

śādvalopari saṁviśya

carvato mīlitekṣaṇān

tṛptān vṛṣān vatsatarān

gāś ca svodho-bhara-śramāḥ

prāvṛṭ-śriyaṁ ca tāṁ vīkṣya

sarva-kāla-sukhāvahām

bhagavān pūjayāṁ cakre

ātma-śakty-upabṛṁhitām

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa watched the contented bulls, calves and cows sitting on the green grass and grazing with closed eyes, and He saw that the cows were tired from the burden of their heavy milk bags. Thus observing the beauty and opulence of Vṛndāvana’s rainy season, a perennial source of great happiness, the Lord offered all respect to that season, which was expanded from His own internal potency.

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.

Vṛndāvana’s Beauty Serves Kṛṣṇa’s Pleasure

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa watched the contented bulls, calves and cows resting on green grass and grazing with closed eyes. The cows were tired from their heavy milk bags.

  2. 2

    The Lord honored the beauty and opulence of Vṛndāvana’s rainy season, a perennial source of happiness expanded from His own internal potency.

  3. 3

    This lush beauty enhances Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure pastimes. His internal potency makes all these arrangements to set the scene for His loving affairs.

Key points from the purport
  • The lush beauty of the rainy season in Vṛndāvana is meant to enhance the pleasure pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • Thus, to set the scene for the Lord’s loving affairs, His internal potency makes all the arrangements described in this chapter.

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

Attraction and threat → Joy and trust. The pastoral world becomes the setting for protection and love.

Chapters 20–28 of Canto 10: Forest seasons, flute and Govardhana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana

Summary of this chapter:

To enhance the description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes in this chapter the beauty of Vṛndāvana during autumn and the rainy season. In the course of his presentation he gives various charming instructions in metaphorical terms.
Back to this verse in chapter 10.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śādvalaa grassy patch
  2. upariupon
  3. saṁviśyasitting
  4. carvataḥwho were grazing
  5. mīlitaclosed
  6. īkṣaṇāntheir eyes
  7. tṛptānsatisfied
  8. vṛṣānthe bulls
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

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 can this description help me place Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure at the center of my devotional service?

Practice

Before one small act of devotional service today, pause and make Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure your intention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVṛndāvana’s Beauty Serves Kṛṣṇa’s PleasureThis 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 10.20.30-31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.