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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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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 55: The History of Pradyumna
10.55.2610.55.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.55.27-28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.55.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं द‍ृष्ट्वा जलदश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ।

प्रलम्बबाहुं ताम्राक्षं सुस्मितं रुचिराननम् ॥ २७ ॥

स्वलङ्कृतमुखाम्भोजं नीलवक्रालकालिभि: ।

कृष्णं मत्वा स्‍त्रियो ह्रीता निलिल्युस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥ २८ ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā jalada-śyāmaṁ

pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam

pralamba-bāhuṁ tāmrākṣaṁ

su-smitaṁ rucirānanam

sv-alaṅkṛta-mukhāmbhojaṁ

nīla-vakrālakālibhiḥ

kṛṣṇaṁ matvā striyo hrītā

nililyus tatra tatra ha

Translation

The women of the palace thought He was Lord Kṛṣṇa when they saw His dark-blue complexion the color of a rain cloud, His yellow silk garments, His long arms and red-tinged eyes, His charming lotus face adorned with a pleasing smile, His fine ornaments and His thick, curly blue hair. Thus the women became bashful and hid themselves here and there.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Pradyumna’s Striking Resemblance to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The palace women saw His rain-cloud-blue complexion, yellow silk garments, long arms and red-tinged eyes.

  2. 2

    His charming lotus face bore a pleasing smile, fine ornaments and thick, curly blue hair.

  3. 3

    Thinking He was Lord Kṛṣṇa, the women became bashful and hid themselves here and there.

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 55: The History of Pradyumna

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Pradyumna and His wife entered the inner chambers of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s palace, the many beautiful ladies there thought He was Kṛṣṇa Himself, so much did His appearance and dress resemble the Lord’s. Out of shyness the ladies ran here and there to hide themselves.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.55
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  3. jala-dalike a cloud
  4. śyāmamof dark blue complexion
  5. pītayellow
  6. kauśeyasilk
  7. vāsasamwhose dress
  8. pralambalong
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

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

Which feature in this description helps you understand why the women thought He was Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one feature from the verse and recall it during a quiet moment of devotional reading today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPradyumna’s Striking Resemblance to KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.55.27-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.