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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 47: The Song of the Bee
10.47.1-210.47.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.47.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं प्रश्रयेणावनता: सुसत्कृतं

सव्रीडहासेक्षणसूनृतादिभि: ।

रहस्यपृच्छन्नुपविष्टमासने

विज्ञाय सन्देशहरं रमापते: ॥ ३ ॥

taṁ praśrayeṇāvanatāḥ su-sat-kṛtaṁ

sa-vrīḍa-hāsekṣaṇa-sūnṛtādibhiḥ

rahasy apṛcchann upaviṣṭam āsane

vijñāya sandeśa-haraṁ ramā-pateḥ

Translation

Bowing their heads in humility, the gopīs duly honored Uddhava with their shy, smiling glances and pleasing words. They took him to a quiet place, seated him comfortably and began to question him, for they recognized him to be a messenger from Kṛṣṇa, the master of the goddess of fortune.

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.

Honor Kṛṣṇa’s Messenger with Humility

  1. 1

    The gopīs honored Uddhava with bowed heads, shy smiles and pleasing words. They seated him comfortably in a quiet place before asking questions.

  2. 2

    They were enlivened to recognize a messenger from Kṛṣṇa, the master of the goddess of fortune.

  3. 3

    The unique gopīs could not think of anything but their beloved Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • The chaste gopīs were enlivened to see that a messenger had come from Kṛṣṇa.
  • As Uddhava will discover during his stay in Vṛndāvana, the unique gopīs could not think of anything but their beloved 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 gopīs then began to remember the pastimes they had enjoyed with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and putting aside all ordinary propriety and shyness, they loudly wept. One gopī, while deeply meditating on Her association with Kṛṣṇa, noticed a bumblebee before Her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim, Uddhava
  2. praśrayeṇawith humility
  3. avanatāḥbowed down (the gopīs)
  4. suproperly
  5. sat-kṛtamhonored
  6. sa-vrīḍawith shyness
  7. hāsaand smiling
  8. īkṣaṇaby their glances
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “humility”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can humility shape the way I listen to someone speaking about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read this translation quietly, giving your full attention to the gopīs’ humble welcome.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Kṛṣṇa’s Messenger with HumilityThis 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 10.47.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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