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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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed
10.23.3310.23.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.23.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.23.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्युक्ता द्विजपत्‍न्यस्ता यज्ञवाटं पुनर्गता: ।

ते चानसूयवस्ताभि: स्त्रीभि: सत्रमपारयन् ॥ ३४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity uktā dvija-patnyas tā

yajña-vāṭaṁ punar gatāḥ

te cānasūyavas tābhiḥ

strībhiḥ satram apārayan

Translation

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus instructed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the place of sacrifice. The brāhmaṇas did not find any fault with their wives, and together with them they finished the sacrifice.

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.

Returning Home in Pure Love

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas’ wives obeyed Lord Kṛṣṇa’s order and returned to their husbands’ sacrificial arena.

  2. 2

    Their husbands found no fault with them. Together they completed the sacrifice.

  3. 3

    The gopīs remained with Kṛṣṇa when asked to return home, whereas the brāhmaṇas’ wives returned. Both achieved pure love of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The wives of the brāhmaṇas obeyed Lord Kṛṣṇa’s order and returned to the sacrificial arena of their husbands, whereas the gopīs, although ordered by Kṛṣṇa to go home, remained in the forest to dance with Him through the full-moon night.
  • Both the gopīs and the brāhmaṇas’ wives achieved pure love of Godhead.

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:

He therefore instructed them to return to their homes. When the ladies went back home, their brāhmaṇa husbands at once felt remorse, and they lamented, “For anyone inimical to Kṛṣṇa, his three births — seminal, brahminical and sacrificial — are all condemned.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itiwith these words
  3. uktāḥspoken to
  4. dvija-patnyaḥthe wives of the brāhmaṇas
  5. tāḥthey
  6. yajña-vāṭamto the place of sacrifice
  7. punaḥagain
  8. gatāḥwent
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 10.23

    In this verse: “love”

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

What does the wives’ return teach me about following Kṛṣṇa’s instruction?

Practice

Pause before one household duty today and remember the wives’ willingness to follow Kṛṣṇa’s order.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturning Home in Pure 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 10.23.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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