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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 · Texts 10.24.32-33

Who is speaking and story frame

तथा च व्यदधु: सर्वं यथाह मधुसूदन: । वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं तद्‌‌द्रव्येण गिरिद्विजान् ॥ ३२ ॥ उपहृत्य बलीन् सम्यगाद‍ृता यवसं गवाम् । गोधनानि पुरस्कृत्य गिरिं चक्रु: प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ ३३ ॥

tathā ca vyadadhuḥ sarvaṁ

yathāha madhusūdanaḥ

vācayitvā svasty-ayanaṁ

tad-dravyeṇa giri-dvijān

upahṛtya balīn samyag

ādṛtā yavasaṁ gavām

go-dhanāni puraskṛtya

giriṁ cakruḥ pradakṣiṇam

Translation

The cowherd community then did all that Madhusūdana had suggested. They arranged for the brāhmaṇas to recite the auspicious Vedic mantras, and using the paraphernalia that had been intended for Indra’s sacrifice, they presented offerings to Govardhana Hill and the brāhmaṇas with reverential respect. They also gave grass to the cows. Then, placing the cows, bulls and calves in front of them, they circumambulated Govardhana.

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.

Loving Service Is Life’s Substance

  1. 1

    The residents of Vṛndāvana were simply devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa; that was the sum and substance of their existence. Out of intense affection, they did exactly what He requested.

  2. 2

    They were not ultimately concerned with Indra, ritualistic sacrifice or the mechanistic philosophy Kṛṣṇa had spoken. They respectfully offered to Govardhana Hill and the brāhmaṇas, fed the cows and circumambulated the hill.

  3. 3

    Their simple love was neither ignorance nor small-mindedness: Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Absolute Truth, the cause of all causes. Their absorption in His loving service made them most fortunate, intelligent and pragmatic.

Key points from the purport
  • The residents of Vṛndāvana were simply devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa; that was the sum and substance of their existence.
  • Thus the residents of Vṛndāvana constantly experienced the highest, essential truth underlying all other truths — and that is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, the cause of all causes and that which sustains the existence of all that exists.
  • The residents of Vṛndāvana were overwhelmed in loving service to that Supreme Absolute Truth; therefore they were the most fortunate, most intelligent and most pragmatic of all living beings.

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 24: Worshiping Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After Kṛṣṇa spoke thus, He arranged for the cowherd men to worship Govardhana with the paraphernalia collected for the sacrifice to Indra. He then assumed a huge, unprecedented transcendental form and devoured all the food and other offerings presented to Govardhana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tathāthus
  2. caand
  3. vyadadhuḥthey executed
  4. sarvameverything
  5. yathāas
  6. āhaHe spoke
  7. madhusūdanaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  8. vācayitvāmaking (the brāhmaṇas) recite
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “recite”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “philosophy”, “absolute truth”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.24

    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 would it mean to make loving service to Kṛṣṇa the substance of my day?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, with the intention of serving out of affection rather than merely completing a duty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Is Life’s SubstanceThis 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 10.24.32-33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.