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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 47: The Song of the Bee
10.47.1610.47.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The gopīsince 10.47.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मृगयुरिव कपीन्द्रं विव्यधे लुब्धधर्मा

स्‍त्रियमकृत विरूपां स्‍त्रीजित: कामयानाम् ।

बलिमपि बलिमत्त्वावेष्टयद् ध्वाङ्‍क्षवद्-

यस्तदलमसितसख्यैर्दुस्त्यजस्तत्कथार्थ: ॥ १७ ॥

mṛgayur iva kapīndraṁ vivyadhe lubdha-dharmā

striyam akṛta virūpāṁ strī-jitaḥ kāma-yānām

balim api balim attvāveṣṭayad dhvāṅkṣa-vad yas

tad alam asita-sakhyair dustyajas tat-kathārthaḥ

Translation

Like a hunter, He cruelly shot the king of the monkeys with arrows. Because He was conquered by a woman, He disfigured another woman who came to Him with lusty desires. And even after consuming the gifts of Bali Mahārāja, He bound him up with ropes as if he were a crow. So let us give up all friendship with this dark-complexioned boy, even if we can’t give up talking about Him.

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.

Unable to Stop Speaking About Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Rādhārāṇī recalls the Lord’s actions as Rāmacandra and Vāmanadeva. In Her reproach, She describes His treatment of Vāli, Śūrpaṇakhā and Bali Mahārāja as evidence of hardheartedness.

  2. 2

    Although She proposes giving up friendship with Kṛṣṇa, She admits the difficulty: they cannot give up talking about Him. Her words remain centered on Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    This speech is called avajalpa. Impelled by jealousy and fear, the lover declares Lord Hari unworthy of attachment because of His perceived harshness, lustiness and dishonesty.

Key points from the purport
  • In that birth, instead of killing Vāli, an enemy of His friend, in the manner of a kṣatriya, He killed him just like a hunter.
  • Bali Mahārāja was so magnanimous that he gave Him whatever he had, yet Kṛṣṇa as Vāmanadeva ungratefully arrested him just like a crow and pushed him down to the Pātāla kingdom.
  • We know all about Kṛṣṇa and how ungrateful He is.

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

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 47: The Song of the Bee

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After all, when a woman’s beloved is far away, she fixes her mind upon him constantly. By incessantly remembering Me, you are sure to regain My association without delay.’”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛgayuḥa hunter
  2. ivalike
  3. kapiof the monkeys
  4. indramthe king
  5. vivyadheshot
  6. lubdha-dharmābehaving like a cruel hunter
  7. striyama woman (namely, Śūrpaṇakhā)
  8. akṛtamade
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 10.47

    In this verse: “lusty”, “attachment”, “lustiness”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “friendship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Rādhārāṇī’s inability to stop speaking about Kṛṣṇa reveal about Her attachment?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today reading aloud about Kṛṣṇa rather than turning to another topic.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.47's connections

Live this todayUnable to Stop Speaking About 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 10.47.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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