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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 29: Kṛṣṇa and the Gopīs Meet for the Rāsa Dance
10.29.210.29.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.29.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.29.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द‍ृष्ट्वा कुमुद्वन्तमखण्डमण्डलंरमाननाभं नवकुङ्कुमारुणम् । वनं च तत्कोमलगोभी रञ्जितंजगौ कलं वामद‍ृशां मनोहरम् ॥ ३ ॥

dṛṣṭvā kumudvantam akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalaṁ

ramānanābhaṁ nava-kuṅkumāruṇam

vanaṁ ca tat-komala-gobhī rañjitaṁ

jagau kalaṁ vāma-dṛśāṁ manoharam

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa saw the unbroken disk of the full moon glowing with the red effulgence of newly applied vermilion, as if it were the face of the goddess of fortune. He also saw the kumuda lotuses opening in response to the moon’s presence and the forest gently illumined by its rays. Thus the Lord began to play sweetly on His flute, attracting the minds of the beautiful-eyed gopīs.

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’s Flute Attracts the Gopīs’ Minds

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa saw the full moon, the opening kumuda lotuses and the gently illuminated forest. He then played sweet songs on His flute, attracting the gopīs’ minds.

  2. 2

    The moon’s reddish glow resembled the face of the goddess of fortune. The purport explains that ramā may also indicate Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the original goddess of fortune.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa appeared in the dynasty of the moon-god. Here the moon plays a prominent role in preparing for His entrance into the rāsa dance.

Key points from the purport
  • The word jagau in this verse indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa played songs on His flute, as confirmed in text 40 by the words kā stry aṅga te kala-padāyata-veṇu-gītā.
  • The word ramā may indicate not only Lord Viṣṇu’s consort but also Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the original goddess of fortune.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in the dynasty of the moon-god, and the moon plays a prominent role here in preparing for the Lord’s entrance into the midst of the rāsa dance.

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

Separation → Transcendental intimacy. The peak of longing reveals the intensity of selfless love.

Chapters 29–33 of Canto 10: The gopīs' yearning, reunion and rasa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 29: Kṛṣṇa and the Gopīs Meet for the Rāsa Dance

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus He began to play His flute. When the gopīs heard the flute’s sound, the impulses of Cupid were violently aroused within them, and they immediately abandoned all their household duties and hastily went to Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāobserving
  2. kamut-vantamcausing the night-blooming kumuda lotuses to open
  3. akhaṇḍaunbroken
  4. maṇḍalamthe disk of whose face
  5. ramāof the goddess of fortune
  6. ānana(resembling) the face
  7. ābhamwhose light
  8. navanew
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 10.29

    In this verse: “sweetly”, “sweet”

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

Which detail in this scene most helps me turn my attention toward Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute recalling Kṛṣṇa playing His sweet flute in the moonlit forest.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Flute Attracts the Gopīs’ MindsThis 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 10.29.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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