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

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 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 11 · Chapter 12: Beyond Renunciation and Knowledge
11.12.911.12.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.12.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.12.1-2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

रामेण सार्धं मथुरां प्रणीते

श्वाफल्किना मय्यनुरक्तचित्ता: ।

विगाढभावेन न मे वियोग-

तीव्राधयोऽन्यं दद‍ृशु: सुखाय ॥ १० ॥

rāmeṇa sārdhaṁ mathurāṁ praṇīte

śvāphalkinā mayy anurakta-cittāḥ

vigāḍha-bhāvena na me viyoga-

tīvrādhayo ’nyaṁ dadṛśuḥ sukhāya

Translation

The residents of Vṛndāvana, headed by the gopīs, were always completely attached to Me with deepest love. Therefore, when My uncle Akrūra brought My brother Balarāma and Me to the city of Mathurā, the residents of Vṛndāvana suffered extreme mental distress because of separation from Me and could not find any other source of happiness.

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 Gopīs’ Love in Separation

  1. 1

    When Akrūra took Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā, the residents of Vṛndāvana suffered deeply in separation. Their love was so complete that they found no other source of happiness.

  2. 2

    In Kṛṣṇa’s absence, the gopīs’ consciousness remained completely absorbed in spiritual love. Their expectation of His return revealed their incomparable devotion.

  3. 3

    The gopīs’ Kṛṣṇa consciousness is considered the highest perfectional stage of life. True happiness comes through devotional service in their spirit of giving up everything for the Supreme Lord’s pleasure.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse especially describes the sentiments of the cowherd girls of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, and Lord Kṛṣṇa here reveals the incomparable love they felt for Him.
  • As explained in the Tenth Canto, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s uncle Akrūra, sent by Kaṁsa, came to Vṛndāvana and took Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma back to Mathurā for a wrestling event.
  • The gopīs loved Lord Kṛṣṇa so much that in His absence their consciousness was completely absorbed in spiritual love.

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

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: Beyond Renunciation and Knowledge

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

However, when Akrūra took Śrī Kṛṣṇa along with Baladeva to Mathurā, the gopīs then thought each night without Him to be equal in duration to a millennium of the demigods. Being tormented by separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa, they could not imagine anything that could give them satisfaction other than His return.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rāmeṇawith Balarāma
  2. sārdhamwith
  3. mathurāmto the city of Mathurā
  4. praṇītewhen brought
  5. śvāphalkināby Akrūra
  6. mayiMyself
  7. anuraktaconstantly attached
  8. cittāḥthose whose consciousness was
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 11.12

    In this verse: “separation”, “absence”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.12

    In this verse: “attached”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.12

    In this verse: “distress”

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 can I make the Lord’s pleasure, rather than my own comfort, the purpose of one action today?

Practice

Set aside one small personal preference today to make time for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

5

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 11.12's connections

Live this todayThe Gopīs’ Love in SeparationThis 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 11.12.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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