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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 22: Kṛṣṇa Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopīs
10.22.1710.22.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.22.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 10.22.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भगवानाहता वीक्ष्य शुद्धभावप्रसादित: ।

स्कन्धे निधाय वासांसि प्रीत: प्रोवाच सस्मितम् ॥ १८ ॥

bhagavān āhatā vīkṣya

śuddha-bhāva-prasāditaḥ

skandhe nidhāya vāsāṁsi

prītaḥ provāca sa-smitam

Translation

When the Supreme Lord saw how the gopīs were struck with embarrassment, He was satisfied by their pure loving affection. Putting their clothes on His shoulder, the Lord smiled and spoke to them with affection.

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.

Pure Love Pleases the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The gopīs’ simple presentation was so pure that Kṛṣṇa immediately became pleased with them. He smiled and spoke with affection.

  2. 2

    They had prayed to Kātyāyanī to have Kṛṣṇa as their husband. The purport explains that He fulfilled their desire through this encounter.

  3. 3

    The gopīs were willing to give up everything for Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure. He wanted to see the power of their love and was fully satisfied by their unalloyed devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “[The gopīs’] simple presentation was so pure that Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately became pleased with them.
  • All the unmarried gopīs who prayed to Kātyāyanī to have Kṛṣṇa as their husband were thus satisfied.
  • The unmarried gopīs desired Kṛṣṇa as their husband, and He fulfilled their desire in this way.”

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 22: Kṛṣṇa Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopīs

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Kṛṣṇa, who felt great affection for them, again spoke: “Because while executing a vow you bathed in the water naked, you have committed an offense against the demigods, and to counteract it you should offer obeisances with joined palms. Then your vow of austerity will achieve its full result.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  2. āhatāḥstruck
  3. vīkṣyaseeing
  4. śuddhapure
  5. bhāvaby their loving affection
  6. prasāditaḥsatisfied
  7. skandheupon His shoulder
  8. nidhāyaplacing
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 10.22

    In this verse: “love”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.22

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.22

    In this verse: “give up”

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

Am I more concerned with how my service appears or with sincerely pleasing Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and express your wish to please Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Love Pleases the Supreme LordThis 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 10.22.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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