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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 33: The Rāsa Dance
10.32.2210.33.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.33.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.33.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्थं भगवतो गोप्य: श्रुत्वा वाच: सुपेशला: ।

जहुर्विरहजं तापं तदङ्गोपचिताशिष: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

itthaṁ bhagavato gopyaḥ

śrutvā vācaḥ su-peśalāḥ

jahur viraha-jaṁ tāpaṁ

tad-aṅgopacitāśiṣaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the cowherd girls heard the Supreme Personality of Godhead speak these most charming words, they forgot their distress caused by separation from Him. Touching His transcendental limbs, they felt all their desires fulfilled.

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.

Hearing Him Relieves the Gopīs’ Distress

  1. 1

    The cowherd girls heard the most charming words of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Hearing Him, they forgot the distress caused by separation from Him.

  3. 3

    Touching His transcendental limbs, they felt all their desires fulfilled.

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 33: The Rāsa Dance

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is most expert in the knowledge of transcendental moods. In the company of the gopīs, who were tightly bound to Him by the ropes of affection and totally dedicated to His service, the Lord expanded Himself into numerous forms.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.33
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itthamthus
  3. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. gopyaḥthe cowherd girls
  5. śrutvāhearing
  6. vācaḥthe words
  7. su-peśalāḥmost charming
  8. jahuḥthey gave up
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “heard”, “hearing”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “separation”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “distress”

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 draws your attention to Kṛṣṇa in this description of the gopīs’ relief?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, pausing over the words “Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing Him Relieves the Gopīs’ DistressThis 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 10.33.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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