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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
10.33.510.33.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.33.6

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

तत्रातिशुशुभे ताभिर्भगवान् देवकीसुत: ।

मध्ये मणीनां हैमानां महामरकतो यथा ॥ ६ ॥

tatrātiśuśubhe tābhir

bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ

madhye maṇīnāṁ haimānāṁ

mahā-marakato yathā

Translation

In the midst of the dancing gopīs, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared most brilliant, like an exquisite sapphire in the midst of golden ornaments.

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 Shines Among the Dancing Gopīs

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa appeared most brilliant in the midst of the dancing gopīs.

  2. 2

    The translation compares Him to an exquisite sapphire surrounded by golden ornaments.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that Devakī is also a name of mother Yaśodā. The Ādi Purāṇa gives Yaśodā and Devakī as two names of Nanda’s wife.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that Devakī, besides being the name of Vasudeva’s wife, is also a name of mother Yaśodā, as stated in the Ādi Purāṇa: dve nāmnī nanda-bhāryāyā yaśodā devakīti ca.

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 Madhya 8.94

The next verse (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.33.6) will illustrate this point.

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 33: The Rāsa Dance

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. The sweet voices of the gopīs filled all the directions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.33
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathere
  2. atiśuśubheappeared most brilliant
  3. tābhiḥwith them
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  5. devakī-sutaḥKṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī
  6. madhyein the midst
  7. maṇīnāmof ornaments
  8. haimānāmgolden
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “nanda’s”, “mother”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.33

    In this verse: “bhaktisiddhānta”

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 the sapphire comparison help you appreciate about Kṛṣṇa’s beauty?

Practice

Spend a quiet moment recalling Kṛṣṇa’s brilliance through the verse’s sapphire comparison.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Shines Among the Dancing 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 10.33.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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