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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 21: The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute
10.21.410.21.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.21.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.21.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

बर्हापीडं नटवरवपु: कर्णयो: कर्णिकारं

बिभ्रद् वास: कनककपिशं वैजयन्तीं च मालाम् ।

रन्ध्रान् वेणोरधरसुधया पूरयन्गोपवृन्दै-

र्वृन्दारण्यं स्वपदरमणं प्राविशद् गीतकीर्ति: ॥ ५ ॥

barhāpīḍaṁ naṭa-vara-vapuḥ karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṁ

bibhrad vāsaḥ kanaka-kapiśaṁ vaijayantīṁ ca mālām

randhrān veṇor adhara-sudhayāpūrayan gopa-vṛndair

vṛndāraṇyaṁ sva-pada-ramaṇaṁ prāviśad gīta-kīrtiḥ

Translation

Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karṇikāra flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayantī garland, Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vṛndāvana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories.

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.

Kṛṣṇa’s Transcendental Beauty Awakens Ecstatic Love

  1. 1

    The gopīs remembered Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, including His artful dress and the beautiful blue flowers over His ears. His appearance excited their romantic desires.

  2. 2

    As the greatest of dancers, Kṛṣṇa entered Vṛndāvana and beautified it with His footprints. The cowherd boys sang His glories.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa poured the nectar of His lips into His flute. Remembering Him, the gopīs lost themselves in ecstatic love.

Key points from the purport
  • The gopīs remembered all the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa mentioned in this verse.
  • Kṛṣṇa’s artful way of dressing and the beautiful blue flowers placed over His ears excited the gopīs’ romantic desires, and as He poured the nectar of His lips into His flute, they simply lost themselves in ecstatic love for Him.

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:

This chapter describes how Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa entered the enchanting forest of Vṛndāvana upon the arrival of autumn, and the praises the young cowherd girls sang when they heard the vibration of His flute. As Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Balarāma and Their cowherd friends entered the forest to graze the cows, Kṛṣṇa began playing His flute.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. barhaa peacock feather
  2. āpīḍamas the decoration of His head
  3. naṭa-varaof the best of dancers
  4. vapuḥthe transcendental body
  5. karṇayoḥon the ears
  6. karṇikārama particular kind of blue lotuslike flower
  7. bibhratwearing
  8. vāsaḥgarments
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: “cowherd boys”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstatic”

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 transcendental appearance most helps you remember Him?

Practice

Reread the description of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance and choose one detail to remember today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Transcendental Beauty Awakens Ecstatic LoveThis 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 10.21.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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