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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
10.35.4-510.35.8-11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.35.6-7

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

बर्हिणस्तबकधातुपलाशै-

र्बद्धमल्लपरिबर्हविडम्ब: ।

कर्हिचित् सबल आलि स गोपै-

र्गा: समाह्वयति यत्र मुकुन्द: ॥ ६ ॥

तर्हि भग्नगतय: सरितो वै

तत्पदाम्बुजरजोऽनिलनीतम् ।

स्पृहयतीर्वयमिवाबहुपुण्या:

प्रेमवेपितभुजा: स्तिमिताप: ॥ ७ ॥

barhiṇa-stabaka-dhātu-palāśair

baddha-malla-paribarha-viḍambaḥ

karhicit sa-bala āli sa gopair

gāḥ samāhvayati yatra mukundaḥ

tarhi bhagna-gatayaḥ sarito vai

tat-padāmbuja-rajo ’nila-nītam

spṛhayatīr vayam ivābahu-puṇyāḥ

prema-vepita-bhujāḥ stimitāpaḥ

Translation

My dear gopī, sometimes Mukunda imitates the appearance of a wrestler by decorating Himself with leaves, peacock feathers and colored minerals. Then, in the company of Balarāma and the cowherd boys, He plays His flute to call the cows. At that time the rivers stop flowing, their water stunned by the ecstasy they feel as they eagerly wait for the wind to bring them the dust of His lotus feet. But like us, the rivers are not very pious, and thus they merely wait with their arms trembling out of love.

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 Rivers Tremble With Love

  1. 1

    Decorated with leaves, peacock feathers and colored minerals, Mukunda plays His flute to call the cows in the company of Balarāma and the cowherd boys.

  2. 2

    The gopīs say that His flute makes even inanimate rivers conscious and stunned in ecstasy. The rivers long for the wind to bring dust from His lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Like the gopīs, the rivers cannot reach Kṛṣṇa’s physical association. Their movement is checked by ecstasy, and their waves, described as arms, tremble with love of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The gopīs state here that the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s flute causes even inanimate objects like rivers to become conscious and then stunned in ecstasy.
  • Just as the gopīs could not always be in Kṛṣṇa’s physical association, the rivers could not come to the Lord’s lotus feet.
  • Although they desired the Lord, their movement was checked by ecstasy, and their “arms,” their waves, trembled with love of Godhead.

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

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:

Indeed, even the unconscious rivers stop flowing. “Just see!
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.35
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. barhiṇaof peacocks
  2. stabakawith the tail feathers
  3. dhātuwith colored minerals
  4. palāśaiḥand with leaves
  5. baddhaarranged
  6. mallaof a wrestler
  7. paribarhathe apparel
  8. viḍambaḥimitating
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 10.35

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

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

How does the rivers’ longing help you reflect on remembering Kṛṣṇa when you feel distant from Him?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and the rivers’ longing for their dust.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Rivers Tremble With LoveThis 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 10.35.6-7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.