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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
10.47.2010.47.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.21

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

अपि बत मधुपुर्यामार्यपुत्रोऽधुनास्ते

स्मरति स पितृगेहान् सौम्य बन्धूंश्च गोपान् ।

क्व‍‍चिदपि स कथा न: किङ्करीणां गृणीते

भुजमगुरुसुगन्धं मूर्ध्‍न्यधास्यत् कदा नु ॥ २१ ॥

api bata madhu-puryām ārya-putro ’dhunāste

smarati sa pitṛ-gehān saumya bandhūṁś ca gopān

kvacid api sa kathā naḥ kiṅkarīṇāṁ gṛṇīte

bhujam aguru-sugandhaṁ mūrdhny adhāsyat kadā nu

Translation

O Uddhava! It is indeed regrettable that Kṛṣṇa resides in Mathurā. Does He remember His father’s household affairs and His friends, the cowherd boys? O great soul! Does He ever talk about us, His maidservants? When will He lay on our heads His aguru-scented hand?

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.

Sincere Longing for Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī asks whether Kṛṣṇa remembers His father’s household, His cowherd friends and His maidservants. She longs for His return and His comforting touch.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains Her thoughts as expressions of hope that Kṛṣṇa desires to return to Vraja. Her questions reveal deep concern for His happiness.

  3. 3

    This speech is called sujalpa: sincere questioning with gravity, humility, unsteadiness and eagerness. Her apparent bewilderment belongs to the supreme bliss of Her love.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī thought, “Since Kṛṣṇa was once satisfied in Vraja but left for Mathurā City, won’t He also develop a desire to leave that place and go somewhere else?
  • Thus Kṛṣṇa must be impatient to come back here, and so He has sent you, a messenger.
  • Thus Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī interprets the feelings of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

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· 1

The purport of SB 10.47.21 quotesCC Ādi 6.68

The translation and word meanings for this verse are taken from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 6.68).

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 47: The Song of the Bee

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Quoting Lord Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava said, “I am the Supreme Soul and supreme shelter of all. By My potencies I create, maintain and destroy the cosmos.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. apicertainly
  2. bataregrettable
  3. madhu-puryāmin the city of Mathurā
  4. ārya-putraḥthe son of Nanda Mahārāja
  5. adhunānow
  6. āsteresides
  7. smaratiremembers
  8. saḥHe
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friends”, “cowherd boys”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “household”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “father’s”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your prayers express a more sincere desire to serve and remember Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer one brief, sincere prayer expressing your desire to remember and serve Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Longing for 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.

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