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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 39: Akrūra’s Vision
10.39.17-1810.39.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.39.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The gopīssince 10.39.19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीगोप्य ऊचु:

अहो विधातस्तव न क्‍वचिद् दया

संयोज्य मैत्र्या प्रणयेन देहिन: ।

तांश्चाकृतार्थान् वियुनङ्‌क्ष्यपार्थकं

विक्रीडितं तेऽर्भकचेष्टितं यथा ॥ १९ ॥

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

aho vidhātas tava na kvacid dayā

saṁyojya maitryā praṇayena dehinaḥ

tāṁś cākṛtārthān viyunaṅkṣy apārthakaṁ

vikrīḍitaṁ te ’rbhaka-ceṣṭitaṁ yathā

Translation

The gopīs said: O Providence, you have no mercy! You bring embodied creatures together in friendship and love and then senselessly separate them before they fulfill their desires. This whimsical play of yours is like a child’s game.

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 Gopīs Lament Separation

  1. 1

    In their distress, the gopīs addressed Providence as having no mercy.

  2. 2

    They lamented that Providence brings embodied creatures together in friendship and love, then separates them before their desires are fulfilled.

  3. 3

    They compared this seemingly senseless separation to a child's whimsical game. Their words express the pain of losing Kṛṣṇa's company.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Antya 19.45

This verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.39.19), was chanted by the damsels of Vraja when Kṛṣṇa left Vṛndāvana for Mathurā with Akrūra and Balarāma.

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

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

Further reading

Chapter 39: Akrūra’s Vision

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Akrūra also spoke of Kaṁsa’s desire to bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā to kill Them on the pretext of Their seeing the bow sacrifice and engaging in a wrestling match. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma laughed out loud when They heard this.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.39
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-gopyaḥ ūcuḥthe gopīs said
  2. ahoO
  3. vidhātaḥProvidence
  4. tavayour
  5. nathere is not
  6. kvacitanywhere
  7. dayāmercy
  8. saṁyojyabringing together
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 10.39

    In this verse: “child’s”, “child's”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.39

    In this verse: “love”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.39

    In this verse: “separation”, “lamented”

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 can I read these strong words as an expression of the gopīs' pain?

Practice

Reread the gopīs' lament, keeping their longing for Kṛṣṇa in mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Gopīs Lament SeparationThis 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 10.39.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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