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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 31: The Gopīs’ Songs of Separation
10.31.1710.31.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.31.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The gopīssince 10.31.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

व्रजवनौकसां व्यक्तिरङ्ग ते

वृजिनहन्‍त्र्यलं विश्वमङ्गलम् ।

त्यज मनाक् च नस्त्वत्स्पृहात्मनां

स्वजनहृद्रुजां यन्निषूदनम् ॥ १८ ॥

vraja-vanaukasāṁ vyaktir aṅga te

vṛjina-hantry alaṁ viśva-maṅgalam

tyaja manāk ca nas tvat-spṛhātmanāṁ

sva-jana-hṛd-rujāṁ yan niṣūdanam

Translation

O beloved, Your all-auspicious appearance vanquishes the distress of those living in Vraja’s forests. Our minds long for Your association. Please give to us just a bit of that medicine, which counteracts the disease in Your devotees’ hearts.

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.

Pure Love Seeks to Serve Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s all-auspicious appearance vanquishes the distress of those living in Vraja’s forests. The gopīs ask for a little of His association as medicine for their hearts.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that the gopīs are not victims of material lust. Absorbed in pure love of Godhead, they want to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet by offering their breasts to Him.

  3. 3

    Their conjugal dealings take place on a pure, spiritual platform. Viewing them through mundane sexual desire prevents one from understanding their loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the ācāryas, the gopīs repeatedly entreat Lord Kṛṣṇa to place His lotus feet on their breasts.
  • The gopīs are not victims of material lust, but rather they are absorbed in pure love of Godhead and thus want to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet by offering their beautiful breasts to Him.
  • Materialistic persons, who are victims of mundane sex desire, will not be able to understand how these conjugal dealings take place on a pure, spiritual platform, and that is the materialists’ great misfortune.

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 31: The Gopīs’ Songs of Separation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The ecstatic sentiments for Lord Kṛṣṇa that the gopīs expressed may appear like symptoms of lust, but in reality they are manifestations of their pure desire to satisfy the Supreme Lord’s spiritual senses. There is not even the slightest trace of lust in these moods of the gopīs.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vraja-vanain the forests of Vraja
  2. okasāmfor those who dwell
  3. vyaktiḥthe appearance
  4. aṅgadear one
  5. teYour
  6. vṛjinaof distress
  7. hantrīthe agent of destruction
  8. alamextremely so
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees’”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.31

    In this verse: “lust”, “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.31

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the purport’s emphasis on service help you understand the gopīs’ request?

Practice

Before rereading this verse, pause and remember that the gopīs’ desire is to serve Kṛṣṇa, not to satisfy material lust.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Love Seeks to Serve KṛṣṇaThis 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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