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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 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā
10.50.2010.50.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.50.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.50.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सुपर्णतालध्वजचिह्नितौ रथा-

वलक्षयन्त्यो हरिरामयोर्मृधे ।

स्‍त्रिय: पुराट्टालकहर्म्यगोपुरं

समाश्रिता: सम्मुमुहु: शुचार्दिता: ॥ २१ ॥

suparṇa-tāla-dhvaja-cihitnau rathāv

alakṣayantyo hari-rāmayor mṛdhe

striyaḥ purāṭṭālaka-harmya-gopuraṁ

samāśritāḥ sammumuhuḥ śucārditaḥ

Translation

The women stood in the watchtowers, palaces and high gates of the city. When they could no longer see Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s chariots, identified by banners marked with the emblems of Garuḍa and a palm tree, they were struck with grief and fainted.

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.

Extraordinary Attachment to the Lords

  1. 1

    The women watch from the city’s watchtowers, palaces and high gates.

  2. 2

    When they can no longer see the chariots marked with Garuḍa and a palm tree, grief overwhelms them and they faint.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that the women are especially mentioned because of their extraordinary attachment to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma.

Key points from the purport
  • The women are especially mentioned here because of their extraordinary attachment to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma.

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

Yearning and danger → Marriage and reciprocity. A wider range of divine relationships appears.

Chapters 50–59 of Canto 10: Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī and royal rescues. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Jarāsandha surrounded Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with his soldiers, chariots and so on, and the women of the city, having climbed up to the roofs of the palaces, became extremely unhappy because they could not see the Lords. Then Kṛṣṇa twanged His bow and started to rain down a torrent of arrows upon the enemy soldiers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.50
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. suparṇawith (the symbol of) Garuḍa (the bird who carries Lord Viṣṇu)
  2. tālaand the palm tree
  3. dhvajaby the banners
  4. cihnitaumarked
  5. rathauthe two chariots
  6. alakṣayantyaḥnot identifying
  7. hari-rāmayoḥof Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
  8. mṛdhein the battle
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “attachment”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the women’s grief reveal about how deeply they cherish the Lords?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute to remember Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and pray for deeper attachment to Them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayExtraordinary Attachment to the LordsThis 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 10.50.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.