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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
10.33.310.33.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.33.4

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

ततो दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्निपेतु: पुष्पवृष्टय: ।

जगुर्गन्धर्वपतय: सस्त्रीकास्तद्यशोऽमलम् ॥ ४ ॥

tato dundubhayo nedur

nipetuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ

jagur gandharva-patayaḥ

sa-strīkās tad-yaśo ’malam

Translation

Kettledrums then resounded in the sky while flowers rained down and the chief Gandharvas and their wives sang Lord Kṛṣṇa’s spotless glories.

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.

The Rāsa Dance Is Pure Spiritual Bliss

  1. 1

    Kettledrums sounded and flowers rained down as the chief Gandharvas and their wives sang Kṛṣṇa’s spotless glories.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s glory in the rāsa dance is pure spiritual bliss, completely different from its perverted reflection in worldly romance.

  3. 3

    The demigods, responsible for maintaining propriety in the universe, ecstatically accepted the rāsa dance as the ultimate religious affair.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated here, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glory in dancing the rāsa dance is pure spiritual bliss.
  • The demigods in heaven, in charge of maintaining propriety in the universe, ecstatically accepted the rāsa dance as the ultimate religious affair, completely different from the perverted reflection of romance we find in this mundane world.

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 33: The Rāsa Dance

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. The gopīs became intoxicated with their enthusiasm to enjoy the rāsa dance, and thus they began satisfying Kṛṣṇa’s senses by singing, dancing and gesturing amorously.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.33
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthen
  2. dundubhayaḥkettledrums
  3. neduḥresounded
  4. nipetuḥfell down
  5. puṣpaof flowers
  6. vṛṣṭayaḥrain
  7. jaguḥthey sang
  8. gandharva-patayaḥthe chief Gandharvas
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “ecstatically”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “religious”

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

Why is it important not to view the rāsa dance as ordinary worldly romance?

Practice

Before reading further, recall the purport’s description: “pure spiritual bliss.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Rāsa Dance Is Pure Spiritual BlissThis 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 10.33.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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