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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 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā
10.6.410.6.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.6.5-6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तां केशबन्धव्यतिषक्तमल्लिकां

बृहन्नितम्बस्तनकृच्छ्रमध्यमाम् ।

सुवाससं कल्पितकर्णभूषण-

त्विषोल्लसत्कुन्तलमण्डिताननाम् ॥ ५ ॥

वल्गुस्मितापाङ्गविसर्गवीक्षितै-

र्मनो हरन्तीं वनितां व्रजौकसाम् ।

अमंसताम्भोजकरेण रूपिणीं

गोप्य: श्रियं द्रष्टुमिवागतां पतिम् ॥ ६ ॥

tāṁ keśa-bandha-vyatiṣakta-mallikāṁ

bṛhan-nitamba-stana-kṛcchra-madhyamām

suvāsasaṁ kalpita-karṇa-bhūṣaṇa-

tviṣollasat-kuntala-maṇḍitānanām

valgu-smitāpāṅga-visarga-vīkṣitair

mano harantīṁ vanitāṁ vrajaukasām

amaṁsatāmbhoja-kareṇa rūpiṇīṁ

gopyaḥ śriyaṁ draṣṭum ivāgatāṁ patim

Translation

Her hips were full, her breasts were large and firm, seeming to overburden her slim waist, and she was dressed very nicely. Her hair, adorned with a garland of mallikā flowers, was scattered about her beautiful face. Her earrings were brilliant, and as she smiled very attractively, glancing upon everyone, her beauty drew the attention of all the inhabitants of Vraja, especially the men. When the gopīs saw her, they thought that the beautiful goddess of fortune, holding a lotus flower in her hand, had come to see her husband, Kṛṣṇa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Beauty Captures the Attention of Vraja

  1. 1

    She was beautifully dressed, with mallikā flowers in her hair and brilliant earrings.

  2. 2

    Her attractive smile and glances drew the attention of the inhabitants of Vraja, especially the men.

  3. 3

    The gopīs thought she was the goddess of fortune, holding a lotus flower and coming to see her husband, Kṛṣṇa.

How it feels

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The baby Kṛṣṇa, who resembled a fire covered by ashes, looked upon Pūtanā and thought that He would have to kill this demon, the beautiful woman. Enchanted by the influence of Yoga-māyā and the Personality of Godhead, Pūtanā took Kṛṣṇa upon her lap, and neither Rohiṇī nor Yaśodā objected.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmher
  2. keśa-bandha-vyatiṣakta-mallikāmwhose arrangement of hair was decorated with a garland of mallikā flowers
  3. bṛhatvery, very big
  4. nitamba-stanaby her hips and firm breasts
  5. kṛcchra-madhyamāmwhose slim waist was overburdened
  6. su-vāsasamnicely painted or very attractively dressed
  7. kalpita-karṇa-bhūṣaṇaof the earrings arranged on her ears
  8. tviṣāby the brilliance
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

How quickly can an attractive appearance lead you to form an impression?

Practice

Notice one moment today when outward beauty captures your attention, and pause before forming a conclusion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.6's connections

Live this todayBeauty Captures the Attention of VrajaThis 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 10.6.5-6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.