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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
10.29.3810.29.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.29.39

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

वीक्ष्यालकावृतमुखं तव कुण्डलश्री-

गण्डस्थलाधरसुधं हसितावलोकम् ।

दत्ताभयं च भुजदण्डयुगं विलोक्य

वक्ष: श्रियैकरमणं च भवाम दास्य: ॥ ३९ ॥

vīkṣyālakāvṛta-mukhaṁ tava kuṇdala-śrī

gaṇḍa-sthalādhara-sudhaṁ hasitāvalokam

dattābhayaṁ ca bhuja-daṇḍa-yugaṁ vilokya

vakṣaḥ śriyaika-ramaṇaṁ ca bhavāma dāsyaḥ

Translation

Seeing Your face encircled by curling locks of hair, Your cheeks beautified by earrings, Your lips full of nectar, and Your smiling glance, and also seeing Your two imposing arms, which take away our fear, and Your chest, which is the only source of pleasure for the goddess of fortune, we must become 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.

Beauty That Inspires Loving Service

  1. 1

    Seeing Kṛṣṇa’s beautiful face, smiling glance and mighty arms, the gopīs declare that they must become His maidservants.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes His gemlike smiling glance as payment far beyond enough to purchase their service. In serving Him, they relish His abundant sweetness.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s two mighty arms make them fearless. His chest is also the sole source of pleasure for the goddess of fortune.

Key points from the purport
  • And even while You shake a chastising finger at her, trying hard to prohibit her, she will put her hand beneath Your turban and take the opportunity to glance at Your face.
  • Thus we, Your maidservants, will relish with our eyes Your abundant sweetness.’
  • Out of shame she has assumed the form of a golden line on Your chest, and she takes her only pleasure there.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.50

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.39) was spoken by the gopīs when they arrived near Kṛṣṇa for the rāsa dance on a full-moon night.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Antya 15.70

This verse quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.39) was spoken by the gopīs when they arrived before Kṛṣṇa for the rāsa dance.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

What woman will not deviate from her prescribed duties as soon as she hears Your flute-song and sees Your form, which enchants the three worlds? Just as the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu protects the demigods, You destroy the unhappiness of the people of Vṛndāvana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vīkṣyaseeing
  2. alakaby Your hair
  3. āvṛtacovered
  4. mukhamface
  5. tavaYour
  6. kuṇḍalaof Your earrings
  7. śrīwith the beauty
  8. gaṇḍa-sthalahaving the cheeks
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “fear”, “fearless”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “sweetness”

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

How can appreciation of Kṛṣṇa’s beauty strengthen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Reread the description of Kṛṣṇa’s face and arms, then offer a brief prayer to become His servant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.29's connections

Live this todayBeauty That Inspires Loving ServiceThis 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 10.29.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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