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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
  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
10.46.4410.46.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.46.45

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 10.46.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ता दीपदीप्तैर्मणिभिर्विरेजू

रज्जूर्विकर्षद्भ‍ुजकङ्कणस्रज: ।

चलन्नितम्बस्तनहारकुण्डल-

त्विषत्कपोलारुणकुङ्कुमानना: ॥ ४५ ॥

tā dīpa-dīptair maṇibhir virejū

rajjūr vikarṣad-bhuja-kaṅkaṇa-srajaḥ

calan-nitamba-stana-hāra-kuṇḍala-

tviṣat-kapolāruṇa-kuṅkumānanāḥ

Translation

As they pulled on the churning ropes with their bangled arms, the women of Vraja shone with the splendor of their jewels, which reflected the lamps’ light. Their hips, breasts and necklaces moved about, and their faces, anointed with reddish kuṅkuma, glowed radiantly with the luster of their earrings reflecting from their cheeks.

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 Radiant Women of Vraja

  1. 1

    The women of Vraja pulled the churning ropes with their bangled arms.

  2. 2

    Their jewels reflected the lamps’ light as their hips, breasts and necklaces moved with the churning.

  3. 3

    Their faces were anointed with reddish kuṅkuma. Light from their earrings reflected on their cheeks, making their faces glow.

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:

Then the cowherd women performed their morning worship and began churning butter, singing the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they busily pulled the churning ropes. The sounds of churning and singing reverberated into the sky, cleansing the world of all inauspiciousness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.46
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāḥthose women
  2. dīpaby the lamps
  3. dīptaiḥillumined
  4. maṇibhiḥwith jewels
  5. virejuḥshone
  6. rajjūḥthe (churning) ropes
  7. vikarṣatpulling
  8. bhujaupon their arms
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “luster”

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

Which detail helps you picture the women of Vraja at their work?

Practice

Spend a minute carefully rereading this description, picturing the churning ropes, lamplight and radiant faces.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Radiant Women of VrajaThis 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 10.46.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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