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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.70.16

Who is speaking and story frame

ईक्षितोऽन्त:पुरस्‍त्रीणां सव्रीडप्रेमवीक्षितै: ।

कृच्छ्राद् विसृष्टो निरगाज्जातहासो हरन् मन: ॥ १६ ॥

īkṣito ’ntaḥ-pura-strīṇāṁ

sa-vrīḍa-prema-vīkṣitaiḥ

kṛcchrād visṛṣṭo niragāj

jāta-hāso haran manaḥ

Translation

The palace women would look upon Lord Kṛṣṇa with shy, loving glances, and thus He would get free from them only with difficulty. He would then set off, His smiling face captivating their minds.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Is Captured by Loving Affection

  1. 1

    The palace women’s shy, loving glances expressed their distress at being separated from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Captured by their affection, the Lord smiled. His smile indicated that He would return later that day to enjoy with them.

  3. 3

    His smiling face captivated their minds, and He freed Himself from their loving glances only with difficulty.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī describes this scene as follows: “The shy, loving glances of the palace women, hinting at their agitation, implied, ‘How can we tolerate this torment of being separated from You?’
  • The idea here is that because the Lord was captured by their affection, He smiled, indicating ‘My dear restless ladies, you are so overwhelmed by this little bit of separation.
  • And then, with His smile captivating their minds, He got away only with difficulty, freeing Himself from the bondage of their loving glances.”

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

War and pride → Justice and protection. The public expression of divine power comes to the foreground.

Chapters 70–79 of Canto 10: Kingship, Jarāsandha and royal challenges. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 70: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Lord’s chariot driver, Dāruka, would bring His chariot, and the Lord would mount it and drive to the royal assembly hall. When He would take His seat in the assembly, surrounded by the Yādavas, He would appear like the moon surrounded by the circle of stars called nakṣatras.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.70
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. īkṣitaḥlooked upon
  2. antaḥ-puraof the palace
  3. strīṇāmof the women
  4. sa-vrīḍashy
  5. premaand loving
  6. vīkṣitaiḥby glances
  7. kṛcchrātwith difficulty
  8. visṛṣṭaḥgetting free
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “separated”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s response to the women’s affection help me appreciate about Him?

Practice

Pause today to remember Kṛṣṇa’s smiling face and His affectionate response to the palace women.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Captured by Loving AffectionThis 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 10.70.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.