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

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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 31: The Gopīs’ Songs of Separation
10.31.1210.31.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.31.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The gopīssince 10.31.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रणतकामदं पद्मजार्चितं

धरणिमण्डनं ध्येयमापदि ।

चरणपङ्कजं शन्तमं च ते

रमण न: स्तनेष्वर्पयाधिहन् ॥ १३ ॥

praṇata-kāma-daṁ padmajārcitaṁ

dharaṇi-maṇḍanaṁ dhyeyam āpadi

caraṇa-paṅkajaṁ śantamaṁ ca te

ramaṇa naḥ staneṣv arpayādhi-han

Translation

Your lotus feet, which are worshiped by Lord Brahmā, fulfill the desires of all who bow down to them. They are the ornament of the earth, they give the highest satisfaction, and in times of danger they are the appropriate object of meditation. O lover, O destroyer of anxiety, please put those lotus feet upon our breasts.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet Shelter the Distressed

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are worshiped by Lord Brahmā. They fulfill the desires of those who bow down to them.

  2. 2

    His feet are the ornament of the earth and give the highest satisfaction. In danger, they are the appropriate object of meditation.

  3. 3

    The gopīs address Kṛṣṇa as the destroyer of anxiety. They ask Him to place His lotus feet upon their breasts.

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 31: The Gopīs’ Songs of Separation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

And when we remember how You followed the cows from forest to forest with Your tender feet, we feel great pain.” In their separation from Kṛṣṇa the gopīs considered a single moment an entire age.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. praṇataof those who bow down
  2. kāmathe desires
  3. damfulfilling
  4. padma-jaby Lord Brahmā
  5. arcitamworshiped
  6. dharaṇiof the earth
  7. maṇḍanamthe ornament
  8. dhyeyamthe proper object of meditation
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.31

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.31

    In this verse: “lover”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.31

    In this verse: “danger”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet change where you turn during anxiety?

Practice

When a worry arises today, pause briefly to meditate on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet Shelter the DistressedThis 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.

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