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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 35: The Gopīs Sing of Kṛṣṇa as He Wanders in the Forest
10.35.8-1110.35.14-15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.35.12-13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The gopīssince 10.35.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सहबल: स्रगवतंसविलास:

सानुषु क्षितिभृतो व्रजदेव्य: ।

हर्षयन् यर्हि वेणुरवेण

जातहर्ष उपरम्भति विश्वम् ॥ १२ ॥

महदतिक्रमणशङ्कितचेता

मन्दमन्दमनुगर्जति मेघ: ।

सुहृदमभ्यवर्षत् सुमनोभि-

श्छायया च विदधत् प्रतपत्रम् ॥ १३ ॥

saha-balaḥ srag-avataṁsa-vilāsaḥ

sānuṣu kṣiti-bhṛto vraja-devyaḥ

harṣayan yarhi veṇu-raveṇa

jāta-harṣa uparambhati viśvam

mahad-atikramaṇa-śaṅkita-cetā

manda-mandam anugarjati meghaḥ

suhṛdam abhyavarṣat sumanobhiś

chāyayā ca vidadhat pratapatram

Translation

O goddesses of Vraja, when Kṛṣṇa is enjoying Himself with Balarāma on the mountain slopes, playfully wearing a flower garland on the top of His head, He engladdens all with the resonant vibrations of His flute. Thus He delights the entire world. At that time the nearby cloud, afraid of offending a great personality, thunders very gently in accompaniment. The cloud showers flowers onto his dear friend Kṛṣṇa and shades Him from the sun like an umbrella.

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.

The Cloud Offers Gentle Service

  1. 1

    Enjoying Himself with Balarāma on the mountain slopes, Kṛṣṇa playfully wears a flower garland on His head.

  2. 2

    His resonant flute vibrations bring joy to all and delight the entire world.

  3. 3

    Afraid of offending a great personality, the cloud accompanies Him with very gentle thunder. It showers flowers upon its dear friend Kṛṣṇa and shades Him like an umbrella.

How it feels

Attachment → Impending loss. The approach of departure gives pastoral love a poignant edge.

Chapters 34–38 of Canto 10: Further Vraja events and Akrūra's arrival. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 35: The Gopīs Sing of Kṛṣṇa as He Wanders in the Forest

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The sound of Kṛṣṇa’s flute causes the cranes, swans and other birds in the lakes to close their eyes in deep meditation, the clouds in the sky to gently rumble, imitating the flute’s vibration, and even such great authorities in the science of music as Indra, Śiva and Brahmā to become astonished. And just as we gopīs are anxious to offer everything we have to Kṛṣṇa, so the wives of the black deer follow Him about, imitating us.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.35
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saha-balaḥtogether with Balarāma
  2. sraka flower garland
  3. avataṁsaas the ornament on His head
  4. vilāsaḥplayfully wearing
  5. sānuṣuon the sides
  6. kṣiti-bhṛtaḥof a mountain
  7. vraja-devyaḥO goddesses of Vṛndāvana ( gopīs)
  8. harṣayancreating joy
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.35

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.35

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.35

    In this verse: “offending”

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 cloud’s gentle accompaniment teach you about serving Kṛṣṇa with care?

Practice

Read the cloud’s service aloud, then briefly express your own wish to serve Kṛṣṇa gently and respectfully.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Cloud Offers Gentle ServiceThis 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 10.35.12-13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.