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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
10.47.5710.47.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.58

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 10.47.58inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forThe Gopīs of Vraja· Uddhava witnesses their love

एता: परं तनुभृतो भुवि गोपवध्वो

गोविन्द एव निखिलात्मनि रूढभावा: ।

वाञ्छन्ति यद् भवभियो मुनयो वयं च

किं ब्रह्मजन्मभिरनन्तकथारसस्य ॥ ५८ ॥

etāḥ paraṁ tanu-bhṛto bhuvi gopa-vadhvo

govinda eva nikhilātmani rūḍha-bhāvāḥ

vāñchanti yad bhava-bhiyo munayo vayaṁ ca

kiṁ brahma-janmabhir ananta-kathā-rasasya

Translation

[Uddhava sang:] Among all persons on earth, these cowherd women alone have actually perfected their embodied lives, for they have achieved the perfection of unalloyed love for Lord Govinda. Their pure love is hankered after by those who fear material existence, by great sages, and by ourselves as well. For one who has tasted the narrations of the infinite Lord, what is the use of taking birth as a high-class brāhmaṇa, or even as Lord Brahmā himself?

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.

Pure Love Surpasses High Birth

  1. 1

    The cowherd women have perfected their embodied lives through unalloyed love for Lord Govinda.

  2. 2

    Their pure love is desired by those who fear material existence, by great sages and by Uddhava himself.

  3. 3

    Birth through parenthood, sacred-thread initiation and sacrificial initiation cannot compare to pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One who tastes narrations of the infinite Lord has no need to prize exalted birth.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that here the term brahma-janmabhiḥ, “brahminical births,” refers to the threefold birth by (1) seminal parenthood, (2) sacred-thread initiation and (3) sacrificial initiation.

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:

Very satisfied at seeing the extent of the gopīs’ love for the Lord, he declared, “These cowherd girls have perfected their lives by coming to the platform of unalloyed love for Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, even Lord Brahmā is inferior to them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāḥthese women
  2. paramalone
  3. tanutheir bodies
  4. bhṛtaḥmaintain successfully
  5. bhuvion the earth
  6. gopa-vadhvaḥthe young cowherd women
  7. govindefor Lord Kṛṣṇa
  8. evaexclusively
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”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “narrations”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Are you placing greater value on spiritual status or on developing pure love for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing or reading about Kṛṣṇa, with the intention of nurturing devotion rather than gaining recognition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Love Surpasses High BirthThis 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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