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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
10.22.710.22.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.22.8

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.22.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भगवांस्तदभिप्रेत्य कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वर: ।

वयस्यैरावृतस्तत्र गतस्तत्कर्मसिद्धये ॥ ८ ॥

bhagavāṁs tad abhipretya

kṛṣno yogeśvareśvaraḥ

vayasyair āvṛtas tatra

gatas tat-karma-siddhaye

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and master of all masters of mystic yoga, was aware of what the gopīs were doing, and thus He went there surrounded by His young companions to award the gopīs the perfection of their endeavor.

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 Fulfills Devotion Beyond Material Desire

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the master of all masters of mystic power. He understood the gopīs’ desires and went to grant the perfection of their endeavor.

  2. 2

    The Lord had no trace of material desire. As the ocean of transcendental bliss, He wanted to share that bliss with the gopīs on a spiritual platform, completely free of ordinary lust.

  3. 3

    His companions were very young children, unaware of the difference between male and female. They followed Him because they could not bear to be without His association.

Key points from the purport
  • As the master of all masters of mystic power, Lord Kṛṣṇa could easily understand the desires of the gopīs, and He could also fulfill them.
  • Although the bodily forms of the gopīs were all fully developed, and although Kṛṣṇa met them in a secluded place and brought them fully under His control, because the Lord is completely transcendental there was not a trace of material desire in His mind.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is the ocean of transcendental bliss, and He wanted to share His bliss with the gopīs on the spiritual platform, completely free of ordinary lust.

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:

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. Suddenly Kṛṣṇa Himself came there, took away all the garments and climbed a nearby kadamba tree.
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 Personality of Godhead
  2. tatthat
  3. abhipretyaseeing
  4. kṛṣṇaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  5. yoga-īśvara-īśvaraḥthe master of all masters of mystic power
  6. vayasyaiḥby young companions
  7. āvṛtaḥsurrounded
  8. tatrathere
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.22

    In this verse: “companions”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.22

    In this verse: “lust”, “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children”

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 does this explanation help me distinguish Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual pastimes from ordinary material desire?

Practice

Reread the purport’s explanation of Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental bliss, pausing to reflect on its freedom from ordinary lust.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Fulfills Devotion Beyond Material DesireThis 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 10.22.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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