1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 30: The Gopīs Search for Kṛṣṇa

10.30.16 10.30.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.30.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The gopīssince 10.30.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कृष्णरामायिते द्वे तु गोपायन्त्यश्च काश्चन ।

वत्सायतीं हन्ति चान्या तत्रैका तु बकायतीम् ॥ १७ ॥

kṛṣṇa-rāmāyite dve tu

gopāyantyaś ca kāścana

vatsāyatīṁ hanti cānyā

tatraikā tu bakāyatīm

Translation

Two gopīs acted like Rāma and Kṛṣṇa in the midst of several others, who took the role of cowherd boys. One gopī enacted Kṛṣṇa’s killing of the demon Vatsāsura, represented by another gopī, and a pair of gopīs acted out the killing of Bakāsura.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembering Kṛṣṇa Among His Companions

1
Two gopīs acted as Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, surrounded by others playing the cowherd boys.
2
One gopī enacted Kṛṣṇa’s killing of Vatsāsura, with another representing the demon.
3
A pair of gopīs also acted out the killing of Bakāsura, continuing their remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s activities.

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

Chapter 30: The Gopīs Search for Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In another place they noticed that Kṛṣṇa’s footprints were showing only the toes, and thus the gopīs concluded He had been picking flowers with which to decorate His beloved. In yet another spot the gopīs saw signs that led them to imagine that Śrī Kṛṣṇa had been tying the locks of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s hair.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.30

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kṛṣṇa-rāmāyiteacting like Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma
dvetwo gopīs
tuand
gopāyantyaḥacting like Their cowherd boyfriends
caand
kāścanasome
vatsāyatīmwho was imitating the calf demon, Vatsāsura
hantikilled

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
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.30
In this verse: “cowherd boys”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the gopīs’ shared enactment show you about remembering Kṛṣṇa together?

Practice

Read this verse aloud, giving careful attention to each activity of Kṛṣṇa that the gopīs remembered.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering Kṛṣṇa Among His CompanionsThis 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 10.30.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories