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

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 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 3 · Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
3.2.133.2.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.2.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

यस्यानुरागप्लुतहासरास-

लीलावलोकप्रतिलब्धमाना: ।

व्रजस्त्रियो द‍ृग्भिरनुप्रवृत्त-

धियोऽवतस्थु: किल कृत्यशेषा: ॥ १४ ॥

yasyānurāga-pluta-hāsa-rāsa-

līlāvaloka-pratilabdha-mānāḥ

vraja-striyo dṛgbhir anupravṛtta-

dhiyo ’vatasthuḥ kila kṛtya-śeṣāḥ

Translation

The damsels of Vraja, after pastimes of laughter, humor and exchanges of glances, were anguished when Kṛṣṇa left them. They used to follow Him with their eyes, and thus they sat down with stunned intelligence and could not finish their household duties.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Remains Bound by Transcendental Affection

  1. 1

    The affection of the damsels of Vraja for Kṛṣṇa excelled even that of great demigods like Brahmā and Śiva. Kṛṣṇa declared that He could not repay the gopīs for their unalloyed affection.

  2. 2

    When Kṛṣṇa left their sight, they followed Him with their eyes and minds. Their feelings of separation were so intense that they could not finish their household duties.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa remains eternally in Vṛndāvana because of the transcendental love of its inhabitants. Though He is not visible now, He is not away from Vṛndāvana for a moment.

Key points from the purport
  • In His boyhood at Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa was notorious as a teasing friend in transcendental love to all the girls His age.
  • Although the gopīs were seemingly anguished by the Lord’s teasing behavior, when Kṛṣṇa would leave them they could not tolerate the separation and used to follow Him with their eyes and minds.
  • Thus even though He is not visible at present, He is not away from Vṛndāvana for a moment.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Separation → Devotional remembrance. Uddhava's tears and silence make remembrance emotionally immediate.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 3: Vidura meets Uddhava and hears of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Uddhava remembers Kṛṣṇa in devotional ecstasy and recounts His disappearance, supremacy, and childhood activities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyawhose
  2. anurāgaattachment
  3. plutaenhanced by
  4. hāsalaughter
  5. rāsahumors
  6. līlāpastimes
  7. avalokaglancing
  8. pratilabdhaobtained thereof
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “household”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the gopīs’ unalloyed affection teach me about love for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa and reflect on the gopīs’ unalloyed affection.

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 3.2's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Remains Bound by Transcendental 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 3.2.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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