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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 46: Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana
10.45.5010.46.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.46.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.46.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

वृष्णीनां प्रवरो मन्त्री कृष्णस्य दयित: सखा ।

शिष्यो बृहस्पते:

साक्षादुद्धवो बुद्धिसत्तम: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

vṛṣṇīnāṁ pravaro mantrī

kṛṣṇasya dayitaḥ sakhā

śiṣyo bṛhaspateḥ sākṣād

uddhavo buddhi-sattamaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The supremely intelligent Uddhava was the best counselor of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty, a beloved friend of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and a direct disciple of Bṛhaspati.

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.

Intelligence in the Service of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Uddhava was supremely intelligent, Kṛṣṇa’s beloved friend and a direct disciple of Bṛhaspati. Kṛṣṇa chose him as His intimate representative to Vṛndāvana.

  2. 2

    Uddhava could expertly comfort the residents, who felt intense separation from Kṛṣṇa. His close resemblance to the Lord also suited him for this mission.

  3. 3

    On returning, Uddhava would describe Vṛndāvana’s extraordinary pure love. Hearing about that love would increase the other devotees’ faith and devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • The ācāryas give various reasons why Lord Kṛṣṇa sent Uddhava to Vṛndāvana.
  • Thus Kṛṣṇa did not invite Nanda and Yaśodā to stay with Him in Mathurā.
  • Śrī Uddhava is described in this verse as buddhi-sattamaḥ, “the most intelligent,” and thus he could expertly pacify the residents of Vṛndāvana, who were feeling such intense separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 10.46.1 quotesSB 10.39.35

The Lord had promised the residents of Vṛndāvana: āyāsye, “I shall return.”

The purport of SB 10.46.1 quotesSB 10.45.23

Also, in the previous chapter Lord Kṛṣṇa promised Nanda Mahārāja: draṣṭum eṣyāmaḥ, “We will come back to see you and mother Yaśodā.”

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

Heartache → Unbroken remembrance. Love endures and deepens despite visible absence.

Chapters 46–49 of Canto 10: Uddhava, the gopīs and the Song of the Bee. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 46: Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day Lord Kṛṣṇa asked His intimate friend Uddhava to take news of Him to Vraja and thus relieve His parents and the gopīs of their misery caused by their separation from Him. Riding on a chariot, Uddhava reached Vraja at sunset.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.46
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. vṛṣṇīnāmof the Vṛṣṇis
  3. pravaraḥthe best
  4. mantrīadviser
  5. kṛṣṇasyaof Kṛṣṇa
  6. dayitaḥbeloved
  7. sakhāfriend
  8. śiṣyaḥdisciple
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees’”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “love”

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 could hearing about pure love for Kṛṣṇa strengthen my devotion?

Practice

Reread the description of Uddhava’s mission and identify one way to use your abilities in devotional service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 10.39.35SB 10.45.23

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.46's connections

Live this todayIntelligence in the Service of KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.46.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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