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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

10.47.42 10.47.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.43

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The gopīssince 10.47.39inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ता: किं निशा: स्मरति यासु तदा प्रियाभि-

र्वृन्दावने कुमुदकुन्दशशाङ्करम्ये ।

रेमे क्व‍णच्चरणनूपुररासगोष्ठ्या-

मस्माभिरीडितमनोज्ञकथ: कदाचित् ॥ ४३ ॥

tāḥ kiṁ niśāḥ smarati yāsu tadā priyābhir

vṛndāvane kumuda-kunda-śaśāṅka-ramye

reme kvaṇac-caraṇa-nūpura-rāsa-goṣṭhyām

asmābhir īḍita-manojña-kathaḥ kadācit

Translation

Does He recall those nights in the Vṛndāvana forest, lovely with lotus, jasmine and the bright moon? As we glorified His charming pastimes, He enjoyed with us, His beloved girlfriends, in the circle of the rāsa dance, which resounded with the music of ankle bells.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Seeks Kṛṣṇa’s Happiness

1
The gopīs recall the beautiful Vṛndāvana forest and the rāsa dance, where they glorified Kṛṣṇa’s charming pastimes.
2
No one loved Kṛṣṇa as much as the gopīs, and no one else could understand Him as well. They rendered intimate service that only they could perfect.
3
Free of all material lust, they grieved because they could not give Kṛṣṇa happiness through their loving service. Their concern was that He was bereft of Vṛndāvana and their service.

Key points from the purport

No one loved Kṛṣṇa as much as the gopīs, and thus no one else could understand Him as well.
Thus the gopīs were distraught to think that Lord Kṛṣṇa was bereft of Vṛndāvana and bereft of their service.
They simply could not imagine Kṛṣṇa enjoying anywhere else as He did in Vṛndāvana in their company.”

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

Chapter 47: The Song of the Bee

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Does He still remember all the pastimes He enjoyed with us, such as the rāsa dance? Will Śrī Kṛṣṇa once again appear before us and give us ecstasy, just as Lord Indra, with his rain, gives life back to the forests aggrieved by the summer heat?

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.47

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tāḥthose
kimwhether
niśāḥnights
smaratiHe remembers
yāsuin which
tadāthen
priyābhiḥwith His beloved girlfriends
vṛndāvanein the Vṛndāvana forest

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: “lovely”, “loved”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.47
In this verse: “lust”, “material”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.47
In this verse: “glorified”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your devotional service become more focused on Kṛṣṇa’s happiness?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and offer it for Kṛṣṇa’s happiness.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Seeks Kṛṣṇa’s HappinessThis 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 10.47.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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