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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.32.21

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं मदर्थोज्झितलोकवेद-

स्वानां हि वो मय्यनुवृत्तयेऽबला: ।

मयापरोक्षं भजता तिरोहितं

मासूयितुं मार्हथ तत् प्रियं प्रिया: ॥ २१ ॥

evaṁ mad-arthojjhita-loka-veda

svānām hi vo mayy anuvṛttaye ’balāḥ

mayāparokṣaṁ bhajatā tirohitaṁ

māsūyituṁ mārhatha tat priyaṁ priyāḥ

Translation

My dear girls, understanding that simply for My sake you had rejected the authority of worldly opinion, of the Vedas and of your relatives, I acted as I did only to increase your attachment to Me. Even when I removed Myself from your sight by suddenly disappearing, I never stopped loving you. Therefore, My beloved gopīs, please do not harbor any bad feelings toward Me, your beloved.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Never Stopped Loving the Gopīs

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa recognized that the gopīs had set aside worldly opinion, the authority of the Vedas and their relatives simply for His sake.

  2. 2

    He explains that His disappearance was meant only to increase their attachment to Him. Even when out of their sight, He never stopped loving them.

  3. 3

    The gopīs were already perfect in their love. Kṛṣṇa acted to inconceivably increase that perfection and show an example for the world.

Key points from the purport
  • Here the Lord indicates that though the gopīs were already perfect in their love for Him, still, to inconceivably increase their perfection and show an example for the world, He acted as He did.

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 Ādi 4.176

This text from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.32.21) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa when He returned to the arena of the rāsa-līlā.

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 32: The Reunion

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Next Lord Kṛṣṇa went to the bank of the Yamunā in the company of the cowherd girls, His internal potencies. The gopīs then made a seat for Kṛṣṇa out of their shawls, and after He had sat down they enjoyed with Him by gesturing amorously.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.32
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. matMy
  3. arthafor the sake
  4. ujjhitahaving rejected
  5. lokaworldly opinion
  6. vedathe opinion of the Vedas
  7. svānāmand relatives
  8. hiindeed
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.32

    In this verse: “attachment”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.32

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.32

    In this verse: “love”

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

What does Kṛṣṇa’s assurance to the gopīs reveal about His loving purpose?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s assurance that He never stopped loving the gopīs, then pray for deeper attachment to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Never Stopped Loving the GopīsThis 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 10.32.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.