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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 21: The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute
10.21.1710.21.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.21.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd girlssince 10.21.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

हन्तायमद्रिरबला हरिदासवर्यो

यद् रामकृष्णचरणस्परशप्रमोद: ।

मानं तनोति सहगोगणयोस्तयोर्यत्

पानीयसूयवसकन्दरकन्दमूलै: ॥ १८ ॥

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo

yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ

mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat

pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kandamūlaiḥ

Translation

Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.

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.

Govardhana Honors the Lord Through Practical Service

  1. 1

    The gopīs praise Govardhana Hill as the best of devotees. He becomes jubilant at the touch of Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Govardhana supplies fragrant, cool water and nourishing grass for the cows. His service supports Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, Their friends and Their herds.

  3. 3

    His caves provide places to play, sit and rest, with shelter from heat, cold and rain. Fruits, roots and other natural gifts become offerings of respect to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains the opulence of Govardhana Hill as follows: Pānīya refers to the fragrant, cool water from the Govardhana waterfalls, which Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma drink and use to wash Their feet and mouths.
  • Govardhana also has grass that is fragrant, soft and conducive to the strong growth of cows and increased production of milk.
  • Govardhana also features soft roots for eating, jewels for ornamenting the body, flat places for sitting, and lamps and mirrors in the form of smooth stones, glistening water and other natural substances.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 10.21.18 quotesCC Madhya 18.34

This translation is quoted from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 18.34).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Antya 14.86

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.18).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Govardhana Hill offers grass and various kinds of fruits and bulbous roots in worship of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. All the nonmoving living beings take on the characteristics of moving creatures, and the moving living beings become stationary.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. hantaoh
  2. ayamthis
  3. adriḥhill
  4. abalāḥO friends
  5. hari-dāsa-varyaḥthe best among the servants of the Lord
  6. yatbecause
  7. rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇaof the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
  8. sparaśaby the touch
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: “friends”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.21

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.21

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 practical care become an expression of my devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Provide drinking water or a comfortable place to sit for someone serving Kṛṣṇa.

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 10.21's connections

Live this todayGovardhana Honors the Lord Through Practical ServiceThis 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 10.21.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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