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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
10.47.6510.47.67

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.66

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nanda and the other cowherdssince 10.47.66inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मनसो वृत्तयो न: स्यु: कृष्णपादाम्बुजाश्रया: ।

वाचोऽभिधायिनीर्नाम्नां कायस्तत्प्रह्वणादिषु ॥ ६६ ॥

manaso vṛttayo naḥ syuḥ

kṛṣṇa pādāmbujāśrayāḥ

vāco ’bhidhāyinīr nāmnāṁ

kāyas tat-prahvaṇādiṣu

Translation

[Nanda and the other cowherds said:] May our mental functions always take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, may our words always chant His names, and may our bodies always bow down to Him and serve Him.

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.

Serve Kṛṣṇa With Mind, Words and Body

  1. 1

    The residents pray that their minds may always take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and their words always chant His names.

  2. 2

    They ask that their bodies may always bow down to Him and serve Him. Their prayer directs their whole being toward devotional service.

  3. 3

    Even without direct association with their beloved Kṛṣṇa, they would never be indifferent to Him. The purport describes them as topmost pure devotees of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The residents of Vṛndāvana were firmly convinced that even if they could not have direct association with their beloved Kṛṣṇa, they would never be indifferent to Him.
  • They were all topmost pure devotees of the Lord.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 6.61

These verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.66-67) were spoken by the denizens of Vṛndāvana, headed by Mahārāja Nanda and his associates, to Uddhava, who had come from Mathurā.

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:

Indeed, I would consider myself most fortunate to take birth as even a bush or creeper that would sometimes be touched by the dust of these gopīs’ lotus feet.” Finally, Uddhava entreated Nanda Mahārāja and the other cowherd men for permission to go back to Mathurā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. manasaḥof the minds
  2. vṛttayaḥthe functions
  3. naḥour
  4. syuḥmay they be
  5. kṛṣṇaof Kṛṣṇa
  6. pāda-ambujaof the lotus feet
  7. āśrayāḥtaking shelter
  8. vācaḥour words
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chant”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I turn my mind, words and body toward Kṛṣṇa today?

Practice

Remember Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, say His name aloud and offer Him a bow.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Kṛṣṇa With Mind, Words and BodyThis 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 10.47.66? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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