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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
10.47.6710.47.69

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.47.68

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.47.68inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं सभाजितो गोपै: कृष्णभक्त्या नराधिप ।

उद्धव: पुनरागच्छन्मथुरां कृष्णपालिताम् ॥ ६८ ॥

evaṁ sabhājito gopaiḥ

kṛṣṇa-bhaktyā narādhipa

uddhavaḥ punar āgacchan

mathurāṁ kṛṣṇa-pālitām

Translation

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] O ruler of men, thus honored by the cowherd men with expressions of devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava went back to the city of Mathurā, which was under Kṛṣṇa’s protection.

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.

Uddhava Returns to Kṛṣṇa in Mathurā

  1. 1

    The cowherd men honor Uddhava with expressions of devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Uddhava returns to Mathurā, the city under Kṛṣṇa’s protection.

  3. 3

    Although he has become quite attached to Vṛndāvana, he returns because Śrī Kṛṣṇa is personally displaying His transcendental pastimes in Mathurā.

Key points from the purport
  • The word kṛṣṇa-pālitām indicates that even though Uddhava became quite attached to the land of Vṛndāvana, he returned to Mathurā because Śrī Kṛṣṇa was personally displaying His transcendental pastimes there.

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:

Finally, Uddhava entreated Nanda Mahārāja and the other cowherd men for permission to go back to Mathurā. Nanda presented him with many gifts and prayed to Uddhava for the ability to always remember Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.47
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. sabhājitaḥshown honor
  3. gopaiḥby the cowherds
  4. kṛṣṇa-bhaktyāwith devotion for Kṛṣṇa
  5. nara-adhipaO ruler of men (Parīkṣit)
  6. uddhavaḥUddhava
  7. punaḥagain
  8. āgacchatreturned
  9. mathurāmto Mathurā
  10. kṛṣṇa-pālitāmwhich was being protected by Lord Kṛṣṇa
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “ruler”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.47

    In this verse: “protection”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Uddhava’s reason for returning reveal about his attachment to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Pause today to remember Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally displaying His pastimes in Mathurā.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUddhava Returns to Kṛṣṇa in MathurāThis 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 10.47.68? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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