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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 39: Akrūra’s Vision

10.39.11-12 10.39.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.39.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.39.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गोप्यस्तास्तदुपश्रुत्य बभूवुर्व्यथिता भृशम् ।

रामकृष्णौ पुरीं नेतुमक्रूरं व्रजमागतम् ॥ १३ ॥

gopyas tās tad upaśrutya

babhūvur vyathitā bhṛśam

rāma-kṛṣṇau purīṁ netum

akrūraṁ vrajam āgatam

Translation

When the young gopīs heard that Akrūra had come to Vraja to take Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to the city, they became extremely distressed.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Separation from Kṛṣṇa Brings Deep Distress

1
The young gopīs heard that Akrūra had come to Vraja.
2
He had come to take Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to the city.
3
Hearing this news, the gopīs became extremely distressed. Their response reveals how deeply attached they were to Kṛṣṇa.

How it feels

Anxiety and conflict → Liberation and joy. Heroic victory is complicated by separation from Vraja.

Chapters 39–45 of Canto 10: Mathurā, Kaṁsa and reunion with parents. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 39: Akrūra’s Vision

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The young gopīs were extremely upset to hear that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would be going to Mathurā. They lost all external awareness and began to remember Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.39

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

gopyaḥthe cowherd girls
tāḥthey
tatthen
upaśrutyahearing
babhūvuḥbecame
vyathitāḥdistressed
bhṛśamextremely
rāma-kṛṣṇauBalarāma and Kṛṣṇa

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 10.39
In this verse: “heard”, “hearing”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.39
In this verse: “distressed”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.39
In this verse: “attached”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the gopīs' distress show me about their attachment to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on how precious Kṛṣṇa's presence was to the gopīs.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The gopīs and the rāsa danceSB 10.20–22 · The gopīs’ flute songs and vowKṛṣṇa explains that desires fixed upon Him do not produce ordinary material desire for sense gratification. The gopīs’ attention is centered upon Him.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.39's connections

Live this todaySeparation from Kṛṣṇa Brings Deep 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 10.39.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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