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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.22.2-310.22.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.22.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.22.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि ।

नन्दगोपसुतं देवि पतिं मे कुरु ते नम: ।

इति मन्त्रं जपन्त्यस्ता: पूजां चक्रु: कुमारिका: ॥ ४ ॥

kātyāyani mahā-māye

mahā-yoginy adhīśvari

nanda-gopa-sutaṁ devi

patiṁ me kuru te namaḥ

iti mantraṁ japantyas tāḥ

pūjāṁ cakruḥ kumārikāḥ

Translation

Each of the young unmarried girls performed her worship while chanting the following mantra. “O goddess Kātyāyanī, O great potency of the Lord, O possessor of great mystic power and mighty controller of all, please make the son of Nanda Mahārāja my husband. I offer my obeisances unto you.”

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.

Make Kṛṣṇa the Center of Worship

  1. 1

    The gopīs prayed to Kātyāyanī to have the son of Nanda Mahārāja as their husband. Their purpose was not a material benediction but simply to love and satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The purport identifies the Durgā worshiped here as Yoga-māyā, the Lord’s internal potency. The name Durgā does not refer exclusively to His external, illusory potency.

  3. 3

    The gopīs are the Lord’s most exalted devotees, and their activities should not be considered mundane. Their superexcellent characteristic was their readiness to do everything for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction and service.

Key points from the purport
  • According to various ācāryas, the goddess Durgā mentioned in this verse is not the illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa called Māyā but rather the internal potency of the Lord known as Yoga-māyā.
  • The name Durgā is sometimes used to refer to the internal, superior potency, as stated in the Pañcarātra: “In all mantras used to worship Kṛṣṇa, the presiding deity is known as Durgā.”
  • Here, the gopīs prayed to the goddess to become wives of Lord 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 22: Kṛṣṇa Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopīs

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Desiring to obtain Kṛṣṇa as their husband, they would then worship the goddess Kātyāyanī with incense, flowers and other items. One day, the young gopīs left their garments on the shore as usual and began playing in the water while chanting of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kātyāyanīO goddess Kātyāyanī
  2. mahā-māyeO great potency
  3. mahā-yoginiO possessor of great mystic power
  4. adhīśvariO mighty controller
  5. nanda-gopa-sutamthe son of Mahārāja Nanda
  6. deviO goddess
  7. patimthe husband
  8. memy
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotees”, “worshiped”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.22

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.22

    In this verse: “chanting”

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

Is my worship centered on satisfying Kṛṣṇa or obtaining something material?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today asking for the desire to love and serve Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Kṛṣṇa the Center of WorshipThis 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 10.22.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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