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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.23.32

Who is speaking and story frame

न प्रीतयेऽनुरागाय ह्यङ्गसङ्गो नृणामिह ।

तन्मनो मयि युञ्जाना अचिरान्मामवाप्स्यथ ॥ ३२ ॥

na prītaye ’nurāgāya

hy aṅga-saṅgo nṛṇām iha

tan mano mayi yuñjānā

acirān mām avāpsyatha

Translation

For you to remain in My bodily association would certainly not please people in this world, nor would it be the best way for you to increase your love for Me. Rather, you should fix your minds on Me, and very soon you will achieve Me.

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.

Fixed Remembrance Deepens Love

  1. 1

    Remaining in Kṛṣṇa’s bodily association would not please people in this world. The ladies’ own devotion and love would grow most effectively in separation.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa asked them to continue fixing their minds on Him, as they had throughout their lives. He promised that they would very soon achieve Him.

  3. 3

    The Lord and His bona fide representative, the spiritual master, expertly engage devotees in different kinds of service. The purpose is to bring them quickly back to His lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord pointed out that people in general would not appreciate a loving affair between Lord Kṛṣṇa, who superficially was appearing as a cowherd boy, and the wives from the brāhmaṇa community.
  • Also, the brāhmaṇa ladies’ own devotion and love would increase most efficiently in separation.
  • In other words, it would be best all around if they continued to fix their minds on Lord Kṛṣṇa and thus went on with the process they had been practicing throughout their lives.

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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Kṛṣṇa told the women that while one can develop transcendental love for Him by seeing His Deity form in the temple, meditating upon Him and chanting His glories, one cannot achieve this result simply by being in His physical presence. He advised them that since they were housewives, their particular duty was to help their husbands perform sacrifices.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. prītayefor satisfaction
  3. anurāgāyafor loving attraction
  4. hicertainly
  5. aṅga-saṅgaḥphysical association
  6. nṛṇāmfor people
  7. ihain this world
  8. tattherefore
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “love”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “separation”

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 can I continue remembering Kṛṣṇa when circumstances differ from what I desire?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to fix your mind on Kṛṣṇa, following His instruction to the ladies.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFixed Remembrance Deepens 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 10.23.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.