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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
10.29.3610.29.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.29.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The beautiful gopīssince 10.29.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीर्यत्पदाम्बुजरजश्चकमे तुलस्या

लब्ध्वापि वक्षसि पदं किल भृत्यजुष्टम् ।

यस्या: स्ववीक्षण उतान्यसुरप्रयास-

स्तद्वद् वयं च तव पादरज: प्रपन्ना: ॥ ३७ ॥

śrīr yat padāmbuja-rajaś cakame tulasyā

labdhvāpi vakṣasi padaṁ kila bhṛtya-juṣṭam

yasyāḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa utānya-sura-prayāsas

tadvad vayaṁ ca tava pāda-rajaḥ prapannāḥ

Translation

Goddess Lakṣmī, whose glance is sought after by the demigods with great endeavor, has achieved the unique position of always remaining on the chest of her Lord, Nārāyaṇa. Still, she desires the dust of His lotus feet, even though she has to share that dust with Tulasī-devī and indeed with the Lord’s many other servants. Similarly, we have approached the dust of Your lotus feet for shelter.

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.

Shelter in the Lord’s Foot Dust

  1. 1

    Although Goddess Lakṣmī remains on Lord Nārāyaṇa’s chest, she still desires the dust of His lotus feet. That dust is ecstatic and enlivening.

  2. 2

    She desires to share this shelter with Tulasī-devī and the Lord’s many other servants. Her unique position does not lessen her attraction to His feet.

  3. 3

    The gopīs ask Kṛṣṇa to give them the same opportunity. They plead that He encourage their search for shelter rather than send them away.

Key points from the purport
  • The gopīs here point out that the dust of the Lord’s feet is so ecstatic and enlivening that the goddess of fortune wants to abandon her unique position on His chest to share with many other devotees a position at His feet.
  • Thus the gopīs urge Lord Kṛṣṇa not to be guilty of a double standard.
  • Since the Lord gave the goddess of fortune a place on His chest and also allowed her to seek the dust of His lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa should certainly give the same opportunity to His most loving devotees, the gopīs.

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:

Just as the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu protects the demigods, You destroy the unhappiness of the people of Vṛndāvana. Therefore You should immediately relieve the torment we have felt because of separation from You.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrīḥthe goddess of fortune, wife of Lord Nārāyaṇa
  2. yatas
  3. pada-ambujaof the lotus feet
  4. rajaḥthe dust
  5. cakamedesired
  6. tulasyātogether with Tulasī-devī
  7. labdhvāhaving obtained
  8. apieven
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “ecstatic”

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

Do I value shelter at the Lord’s feet more than a special position?

Practice

Offer a short prayer for shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet alongside His other servants.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShelter in the Lord’s Foot DustThis 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 10.29.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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