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

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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 47: The Song of the Bee
10.47.1910.47.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.20

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

प्रियसख पुनरागा: प्रेयसा प्रेषित: किं

वरय किमनुरुन्धे माननीयोऽसि मेऽङ्ग ।

नयसि कथमिहास्मान् दुस्त्यजद्वन्द्वपार्श्वं

सततमुरसि सौम्य श्रीर्वधू: साकमास्ते ॥ २० ॥

priya-sakha punar āgāḥ preyasā preṣitaḥ kiṁ

varaya kim anurundhe mānanīyo ’si me ’ṅga

nayasi katham ihāsmān dustyaja-dvandva-pārśvaṁ

satatam urasi saumya śrīr vadhūḥ sākam āste

Translation

O friend of My dear one, has My beloved sent you here again? I should honor you, friend, so please choose whatever boon you wish. But why have you come back here to take us to Him, whose conjugal love is so difficult to give up? After all, gentle bee, His consort is the goddess Śrī, and she is always with Him, staying upon His chest.

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.

Humility and Hope Replace Harsh Feelings

  1. 1

    When the bee disappeared, Rādhārāṇī feared it had reported Her harsh words and made Kṛṣṇa sorrowful. When it returned, She thought Kṛṣṇa had kindly sent it again to bring Her to Him.

  2. 2

    She now honors the messenger and carefully avoids speaking against Kṛṣṇa. She acknowledges that His consort Śrī remains upon His chest.

  3. 3

    This humble speech is called pratijalpa: the lover feels unworthy of attaining her beloved yet cannot abandon hope of a conjugal relationship with Him. Rādhārāṇī gives up Her harsh feelings and acknowledges Kṛṣṇa’s greatness.

Key points from the purport
  • In Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the context of this verse: “While Rādhārāṇī was talking with the bee and the bee was flying hither and thither, it all of a sudden disappeared from Her sight.
  • Thus when Kṛṣṇa enjoys other women, she stays on His chest in the form of a golden line.
  • Here Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī has given up Her harsh feelings and humbly acknowledges the greatness of Śrī 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.

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:

The goddess of fortune herself, who always resides on Kṛṣṇa’s chest, could not get the same mercy as that which the gopīs obtained during the rāsa dance, when Kṛṣṇa embraced their necks with His mighty arms. What, then, to speak of other women!
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. priyaof My beloved
  2. sakhaO friend
  3. punaḥonce again
  4. āgāḥyou have come
  5. preyasāby My beloved
  6. preṣitaḥsent
  7. kimwhether
  8. varayaplease choose
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “love”, “lover”

  • 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: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can Rādhārāṇī’s renewed hope help me reflect on humility in devotion?

Practice

Offer a brief, humble prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa’s greatness and asking for the opportunity to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumility and Hope Replace Harsh FeelingsThis 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 10.47.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories