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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 30: The Gopīs Search for Kṛṣṇa
10.30.810.30.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.30.9

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

चूतप्रियालपनसासनकोविदार-

जम्ब्वर्कबिल्वबकुलाम्रकदम्बनीपा: ।

येऽन्ये परार्थभवका यमुनोपकूला:

शंसन्तु कृष्णपदवीं रहितात्मनां न: ॥ ९ ॥

cūta-priyāla-panasāsana-kovidāra

jambv-arka-bilva-bakulāmra-kadamba-nīpāḥ

ye ’nye parārtha-bhavakā yamunopakūlāḥ

śaṁsantu kṛṣṇa-padavīṁ rahitātmanāṁ naḥ

Translation

O cūta, O priyāla, O panasa, āsana and kovidāra, O jambu, O arka, O bilva, bakula and āmra, O kadamba and nīpa and all you other plants and trees living by the banks of the Yamunā who have dedicated your very existence to the welfare of others, we gopīs have lost our minds, so please tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone.

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.

Seeking Help from Those Who Serve Others

  1. 1

    The gopīs addressed the plants and trees by the Yamunā as beings whose very existence was dedicated to the welfare of others.

  2. 2

    Overwhelmed by separation, they pleaded with them to reveal where Kṛṣṇa had gone.

  3. 3

    Their desperation was evident in their approaching even the insignificant arka plant. The purport also distinguishes the cūta, a mango creeper, from the āmra, a mango tree.

Key points from the purport
  • He goes on to explain that the nīpa, though not a very prominent tree, bears large flowers, and that the gopīs’ desperation to find Kṛṣṇa is clearly shown by the fact that they approached the insignificant arka plant.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives the following information about Vṛndāvana’s trees: “The nīpa is ‘the dust kadamba,’ and it has large flowers.
  • Even though the arka plant is very insignificant, it always grows near Lord Gopīśvara [the Śiva deity in Vṛndāvana forest] because it is dear to him.”

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Antya 15.31

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then quoted the following three verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.30.9, 7, 8).

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 30: The Gopīs Search for Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Śrī Kṛṣṇa suddenly disappeared from the arena of the rāsa dance, the gopīs, their minds fully absorbed in thoughts of Him, began looking for Him in the various forests. From all the moving and nonmoving creatures they asked for news of Kṛṣṇa’s whereabouts.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.30
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. cūtaO mango creeper
  2. priyālaO priyāla tree (a kind of śāla tree)
  3. panasaO jackfruit tree
  4. āsanaO āsana tree (a yellow śāla)
  5. kovidāraO kovidāra tree
  6. jambuO rose-apple tree
  7. arkaO arka plant
  8. bilvaO bel-fruit tree
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.30

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.30

    In this verse: “separation”

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 the trees’ dedication to others’ welfare inspire your own service?

Practice

Do one small helpful task for someone today, remembering the trees praised for serving others.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeking Help from Those Who Serve OthersThis 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 10.30.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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