1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.44.16

Who is speaking and story frame

प्रातर्व्रजाद् व्रजत आविशतश्च सायंगोभि: समं क्‍वणयतोऽस्य निशम्य वेणुम् । निर्गम्य तूर्णमबला: पथि भूरिपुण्या:पश्यन्ति सस्मितमुखं सदयावलोकम् ॥ १६ ॥

prātar vrajād vrajata āviśataś ca sāyaṁ

gobhiḥ samaṁ kvaṇayato ’sya niśamya veṇum

nirgamya tūrṇam abalāḥ pathi bhūri-puṇyāḥ

paśyanti sa-smita-mukhaṁ sa-dayāvalokam

Translation

When the gopīs hear Kṛṣṇa playing His flute as He leaves Vraja in the morning with His cows or returns with them at sunset, the young girls quickly come out of their houses to see Him. They must have performed many pious activities to be able to see Him as He walks on the road, His smiling face mercifully glancing upon them.

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.

Eagerly Respond to Kṛṣṇa’s Flute

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa plays His flute as He leaves Vraja with the cows in the morning and returns at sunset.

  2. 2

    Hearing His flute, the gopīs quickly leave their houses to see Him.

  3. 3

    They are described as having performed many pious activities to receive this sight. Kṛṣṇa’s smiling face casts merciful glances upon them.

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 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The ladies in the arena, seeing the violent battle, began to condemn the King and all the members of the assembly: “A respectable audience should never have allowed a wrestling match between such huge wrestlers, whose limbs are as tough as lightning bolts, and such tender young boys, who are just entering youth. An intelligent person should never enter an assembly if he sees injustice being done there.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.44
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prātaḥin the early morning
  2. vrajātfrom Vraja
  3. vrajataḥof Him who is going
  4. āviśataḥentering
  5. caand
  6. sāyamin the evening
  7. gobhiḥ samamtogether with the cows
  8. kvaṇayataḥwho is playing
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “mercifully”, “merciful”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 touches you about the gopīs’ eagerness to see Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

At sunset today, pause to remember Kṛṣṇa returning with His cows and mercifully glancing at the gopīs.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEagerly Respond to Kṛṣṇa’s FluteThis 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 10.44.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.