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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 10.21.16

Who is speaking and story frame

द‍ृष्ट्वातपे व्रजपशून् सह रामगोपै:

सञ्चारयन्तमनु वेणुमुदीरयन्तम् ।

प्रेमप्रवृद्ध उदित: कुसुमावलीभि:

सख्युर्व्यधात् स्ववपुषाम्बुद आतपत्रम् ॥ १६ ॥

dṛṣṭvātape vraja-paśūn saha rāma-gopaiḥ

sañcārayantam anu veṇum udīrayantam

prema-pravṛddha uditaḥ kusumāvalībhiḥ

sakhyur vyadhāt sva-vapuṣāmbuda ātapatram

Translation

In the company of Balarāma and the cowherd boys, Lord Kṛṣṇa is continually vibrating His flute as He herds all the animals of Vraja, even under the full heat of the summer sun. Seeing this, the cloud in the sky has expanded himself out of love. He is rising high and constructing out of his own body, with its multitude of flower-like droplets of water, an umbrella for the sake of his friend.

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.

Serve Kṛṣṇa With Loving Friendship

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa plays His flute while herding the animals of Vraja with Balarāma and the cowherd boys, even in the full heat of the sun.

  2. 2

    Seeing their friend in the heat, the clouds appear in sympathy. They serve as a soothing umbrella over Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Their companions.

  3. 3

    The cloud expands out of love and uses his own body to give shade. His droplets of water are like flowers offered in this friendly service.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda states in his Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “The scorching heat of the autumn sunshine was sometimes intolerable, and therefore the clouds in the sky appeared in sympathy above Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and Their boyfriends while They engaged in blowing Their flutes.
  • The clouds served as a soothing umbrella over Their heads just to make friendship with Kṛṣṇa.”

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 21: The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The aborigine women of the Śabara race, seeing the grass stained by the red kuṅkuma adorning the Lord’s lotus feet, smear this vermilion powder upon their breasts and faces to alleviate the distress created by Cupid. Govardhana Hill offers grass and various kinds of fruits and bulbous roots in worship of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  2. ātapein the full heat of the sun
  3. vraja-paśūnthe domestic animals of Vraja
  4. sahatogether with
  5. rāma-gopaiḥLord Balarāma and the cowherd boys
  6. sañcārayantamherding together
  7. anurepeatedly
  8. veṇumHis flute
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 10.21

    In this verse: “friend”, “cowherd boys”, “companions”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.21

    In this verse: “love”

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 I learn from the cloud’s readiness to serve with what he has?

Practice

Write down one small way you can use something you already have in Kṛṣṇa’s service today, and do it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Kṛṣṇa With Loving FriendshipThis 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 10.21.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.