1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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 82: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
10.82.3810.82.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.82.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.82.39inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

गोप्यश्च कृष्णमुपलभ्य चिरादभीष्टं

यत्प्रेक्षणे द‍ृशिषु पक्ष्मकृतं शपन्ति ।

द‍ृग्भिर्हृदीकृतमलं परिरभ्य सर्वा-

स्तद्भ‍ावमापुरपि नित्ययुजां दुरापम् ॥ ३९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

gopyaś ca kṛṣṇam upalabhya cirād abhīṣṭaṁ

yat-prekṣaṇe dṛśiṣu pakṣma-kṛtaṁ śapanti

dṛgbhir hṛdī-kṛtam alaṁ parirabhya sarvās

tad-bhāvam āpur api nitya-yujāṁ durāpam

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: While gazing at their beloved Kṛṣṇa, the young gopīs used to condemn the creator of their eyelids, [which would momentarily block their vision of Him]. Now, seeing Kṛṣṇa again after such a long separation, with their eyes they took Him into their hearts, and there they embraced Him to their full satisfaction. In this way they became totally absorbed in ecstatic meditation on Him, although those who constantly practice mystic yoga find such absorption difficult to achieve.

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.

Loving Absorption Draws Kṛṣṇa’s Response

  1. 1

    The gopīs longed so intensely to see Kṛṣṇa that even blinking felt like an interruption. After their long separation, they took Him into their hearts through their eyes.

  2. 2

    By mentally embracing Him, they became overwhelmed with joy and forgot themselves. Their loving absorption surpassed what even great yogīs could achieve through constant meditation.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is present in everyone’s heart. Knowing the gopīs’ ecstasy, He reciprocated their embraces from within.

Key points from the purport
  • No one can even imagine how anxious the gopīs were to see Kṛṣṇa again.
  • As soon as Kṛṣṇa became visible to them, they took Him inside their hearts through their eyes and embraced Him to their full satisfaction.
  • Kṛṣṇa could understand that the gopīs were rapt in ecstasy by embracing Him in their minds, and therefore, since He is present in everyone’s heart, He also reciprocated the embracing from within.”

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

Humility and separation → Friendship and reunion. The sweetness of relationship outweighs prestige.

Chapters 80–86 of Canto 10: Sudāmā and reunion with the residents of Vraja. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 82: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He consoled them by pointing out that He is all-pervasive, being the source of all energies, and thus He implied that they could never be separated from Him. Having been at long last reunited with Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs prayed simply to have His lotus feet manifested in their hearts.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.82
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. gopyaḥthe young cowherd women
  3. caand
  4. kṛṣṇamKṛṣṇa
  5. upalabhyasighting
  6. cirātafter a long time
  7. abhīṣṭamtheir object of desire
  8. yatwhom
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.82

    In this verse: “ecstatic”, “ecstasy”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.82

    In this verse: “separation”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s response to the gopīs encourage me to approach Him through loving devotion?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa in your heart and expressing your desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Absorption Draws Kṛṣṇa’s ResponseThis 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 10.82.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories