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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
3.2.283.2.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.29

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

स एव गोधनं लक्ष्म्या निकेतं सितगोवृषम् ।

चारयन्ननुगान् गोपान् रणद्वेणुररीरमत् ॥ २९ ॥

sa eva go-dhanaṁ lakṣmyā

niketaṁ sita-go-vṛṣam

cārayann anugān gopān

raṇad-veṇur arīramat

Translation

While herding the very beautiful bulls, the Lord, who was the reservoir of all opulence and fortune, used to blow His flute, and thus He enlivened His faithful followers, the cowherd boys.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Simple Wealth and Transcendental Joy

  1. 1

    The purport describes cows and grain as the basis of real wealth and sufficient food. Artificial necessities waste the valuable time of human life.

  2. 2

    By tending cows and bulls, Kṛṣṇa taught the vaiśyas to protect these valuable animals. The cow is honored as mother for supplying milk, and the bull as father for helping produce grain.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s flute gave His cowherd friends transcendental pleasure surpassing the happiness praised by impersonalists. These friends had accumulated heaps of pious acts and now enjoyed the Lord’s personal company.

Key points from the purport
  • Human society needs only sufficient grain and sufficient cows to solve its economic problems.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa, as the teacher of human society, personally showed by His acts that the mercantile community, or the vaiśyas, should herd cows and bulls and thus give protection to the valuable animals.
  • These cowherd boys, as will be explained by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, were living entities who had accumulated heaps of pious acts and thus were enjoying with the Lord in person and were hearing His transcendental flute.

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. saḥHe (Lord Kṛṣṇa)
  2. evacertainly
  3. go-dhanamthe treasure of cows
  4. lakṣmyāḥby opulence
  5. niketamreservoir
  6. sita-go-vṛṣambeautiful cows and bulls
  7. cārayanherding
  8. anugānthe followers
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”, “friends”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which unnecessary demand on your time could you reduce to make room for remembering Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary activity today and use that time to reread the description of Kṛṣṇa playing His flute.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySimple Wealth and Transcendental JoyThis 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 3.2.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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