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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
10.29.3710.29.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.29.38

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The beautiful gopīssince 10.29.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्न: प्रसीद वृजिनार्दन तेऽङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिमूलं

प्राप्ता विसृज्य वसतीस्त्वदुपासनाशा: ।

त्वत्सुन्दरस्मितनिरीक्षणतीव्रकाम-

तप्तात्मनां पुरुषभूषण देहि दास्यम् ॥ ३८ ॥

tan naḥ prasīda vṛjinārdana te ’nghri-mūlaṁ

prāptā visṛjya vasatīs tvad-upāsanāśāḥ

tvat-sundara-smita-nirīkṣaṇa-tīvra-kāma

taptātmanāṁ puruṣa-bhūṣaṇa dehi dāsyam

Translation

Therefore, O vanquisher of all distress, please show us mercy. To approach Your lotus feet we abandoned our families and homes, and we have no desire other than to serve You. Our hearts are burning with intense desires generated by Your beautiful smiling glances. O jewel among men, please make us Your maidservants.

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.

Service Rather Than Personal Enjoyment

  1. 1

    Garga predicted that Kṛṣṇa would manifest all the opulences of the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa. The gopīs ask Him to show that mercy by granting them direct service.

  2. 2

    They did not abandon their families and homes to secure a higher pleasure for themselves. Their simple plea for service reveals their pure-hearted devotion.

  3. 3

    Their concern is Kṛṣṇa’s happiness. If seeing His face makes them happy while He pursues His own happiness, they see no harm in that.

Key points from the purport
  • When Śrī Kṛṣṇa was born, the sage Garga predicted that He would manifest all the opulences of the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa.
  • The gopīs emphasize that they did not give up their families and homes with the hope of securing a higher pleasure from Kṛṣṇa.
  • The Ṭhākura states that the gopīs meant to say, “O jewel of all males, please decorate our golden bodies with the dark blue gems of Your limbs.”

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:

The gopīs were crestfallen to hear this, and after crying a little they replied, with a bit of anger, “It is very unfair for You to reject young girls who have abandoned everything in their lives and come to You with the exclusive desire to serve You. By serving our husbands and children we receive only pain, whereas by serving You, the dearmost Soul of all living beings, we will perfectly fulfill the true religious duty of the self.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tattherefore
  2. naḥto us
  3. prasīdaplease show Your mercy
  4. vṛjinaof all distress
  5. ardanaO vanquisher
  6. teYour
  7. aṅghri-mūlamfeet
  8. prāptāḥwe have approached
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “devotion”

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

Am I seeking to serve Kṛṣṇa for His happiness or mainly for my own enjoyment?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and say, “Kṛṣṇa, may this be for Your happiness.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService Rather Than Personal EnjoymentThis 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 10.29.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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