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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
10.21.1810.21.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.21.19

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

गा गोपकैरनुवनं नयतोरुदार-

वेणुस्वनै: कलपदैस्तनुभृत्सु सख्य: ।

अस्पन्दनं गतिमतां पुलकस्तरुणां

निर्योगपाशकृतलक्षणयोर्विचित्रम् ॥ १९ ॥

gā gopakair anu-vanaṁ nayator udāra

veṇu-svanaiḥ kala-padais tanu-bhṛtsu sakhyaḥ

aspandanaṁ gati-matāṁ pulakas taruṇāṁ

niryoga-pāśa-kṛta-lakṣaṇayor vicitram

Translation

My dear friends, as Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma pass through the forest with Their cowherd friends, leading Their cows, They carry ropes to bind the cows’ rear legs at the time of milking. When Lord Kṛṣṇa plays on His flute, the sweet music causes the moving living entities to become stunned and the nonmoving trees to tremble with ecstasy. These things are certainly very wonderful.

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.

Wonder at Kṛṣṇa’s Flute and Cowherding Beauty

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma lead Their cows through the forest with Their cowherd friends. Their equipment includes ropes used to bind the cows’ rear legs during milking.

  2. 2

    Their ropes are made of yellow cloth, with clusters of pearls at both ends. Worn on Their heads or carried on Their shoulders, these ropes become beautiful decorations.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s sweet flute-song makes moving beings stand still and nonmoving trees tremble in ecstasy. The gopīs marvel at these wonderful responses.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would sometimes wear Their cowherding ropes on Their heads and sometimes carry them on Their shoulders, and thus They were beautifully decorated with all the equipment of cowherd boys.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the ropes of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are made of yellow cloth and have clusters of pearls at both ends.
  • Sometimes They wear these ropes around Their turbans, and the ropes thus become wonderful decorations.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.207

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.19).

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:

All the nonmoving living beings take on the characteristics of moving creatures, and the moving living beings become stationary. These things are all very wonderful.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gāḥthe cows
  2. gopakaiḥwith the cowherd boys
  3. anu-vanamto each forest
  4. nayatoḥleading
  5. udāravery liberal
  6. veṇu-svanaiḥby the vibrations of the Lord’s flute
  7. kala-padaiḥhaving sweet tones
  8. tanubhṛtsuamong the living entities
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “ecstasy”, “sweet”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.21

    In this verse: “friends”

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

Which detail of Kṛṣṇa’s cowherding pastimes awakens wonder in me?

Practice

Spend one minute picturing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with Their decorated cowherding ropes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWonder at Kṛṣṇa’s Flute and Cowherding BeautyThis 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 10.21.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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