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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 10.90.15

Who is speaking and story frame

महिष्य ऊचु:

कुररि विलपसि त्वं वीतनिद्रा न शेषे

स्वपिति जगति रात्र्यामीश्वरो गुप्तबोध: ।

वयमिव सखि कच्चिद् गाढनिर्विद्धचेता

नलिननयनहासोदारलीलेक्षितेन ॥ १५ ॥

mahiṣya ūcuḥ

kurari vilapasi tvaṁ vīta-nidrā na śeṣe

svapiti jagati rātryām īśvaro gupta-bodhaḥ

vayam iva sakhi kaccid gāḍha-nirviddha-cetā

nalina-nayana-hāsodāra-līlekṣitena

Translation

The queens said: O kurarī bird, you are lamenting. Now it is night, and somewhere in this world the Supreme Lord is asleep in a hidden place. But you are wide awake, O friend, unable to fall asleep. Is it that, like us, you have had your heart pierced to the core by the lotus-eyed Lord’s munificent, playful smiling glances?

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.

The Queens See Their Longing Reflected

  1. 1

    The queens addressed the wakeful kurarī bird as a friend, asking whether Kṛṣṇa’s playful, smiling glances had pierced her heart as they had theirs.

  2. 2

    Their transcendental madness filled them with such ecstasy that they saw their own mood reflected in everyone and everything.

  3. 3

    They imagined the bird grieving over separation from Kṛṣṇa. Speaking from their own longing, they said His whereabouts were unknown and warned the bird not to expect Him to hear her lament.

Key points from the purport
  • Here they point out to the kurarī bird, whom they take to be sorrowing over separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa, that if the Lord actually had any concern for her or themselves, He would not be sleeping comfortably at that moment.
  • In case the kurarī might think that Kṛṣṇa is sleeping with His queens, they deny this by saying that He is gupta-bodha: His whereabouts are unknown to them.
  • You must have had some contact, then, with our Kṛṣṇa.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 23.65

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.90.15) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Awe → Reverent fulfillment. The canto closes with theological wonder.

Chapters 87–90 of Canto 10: The Vedas praise and the Lord's glories conclude. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 90: Summary of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Glories

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

With His graceful gestures, loving words and sidelong glances, He would enchant their hearts. In this way the queens would become totally absorbed in thoughts of Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.90
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mahiṣyaḥ ūcuḥthe queens said
  2. kurariO kurarī bird (female osprey)
  3. vilapasiare lamenting
  4. tvamyou
  5. vītadeprived
  6. nidrāof sleep
  7. na śeṣeyou cannot rest
  8. svapitiis sleeping
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “lamenting”, “separation”, “lament”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “ecstasy”

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 does recognizing the queens’ intense longing help you understand their words to the bird?

Practice

Reread the queens’ question to the kurarī, paying attention to their longing for the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayThe Queens See Their Longing ReflectedThis 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 10.90.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.