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 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

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 3 · Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
3.2.333.3.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.34

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

शरच्छशिकरैर्मृष्टं मानयन् रजनीमुखम् ।

गायन् कलपदं रेमे स्त्रीणां मण्डलमण्डन: ॥ ३४ ॥

śarac-chaśi-karair mṛṣṭaṁ

mānayan rajanī-mukham

gāyan kala-padaṁ reme

strīṇāṁ maṇḍala-maṇḍanaḥ

Translation

In the third season of the year, the Lord enjoyed as the central beauty of the assembly of women by attracting them with His pleasing songs in an autumn night brightened by moonshine.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Central Beauty

  1. 1

    On a moonlit autumn night, the Lord attracted the women with His pleasing songs.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa enjoyed as the central beauty of their assembly. Before leaving Vṛndāvana, He pleased His young girlfriends, the transcendental gopīs, through His rāsa-līlā pastimes.

  3. 3

    Uddhava ended his description of the Lord’s activities here, with this account of Kṛṣṇa pleasing the gopīs.

Key points from the purport
  • Before leaving the land of cows, Vṛndāvana, the Lord pleased His young girlfriends, the transcendental gopīs, in His rāsa-līlā pastimes.
  • Here Uddhava stopped his description of the Lord’s activities.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Third Canto, Second Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

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. śaratautumn
  2. śaśiof the moon
  3. karaiḥby the shining
  4. mṛṣṭambrightened
  5. mānayanthinking so
  6. rajanī-mukhamthe face of the night
  7. gāyansinging
  8. kala-padampleasing songs
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What draws your attention to Kṛṣṇa as the central beauty in this description?

Practice

Read the translation once slowly, keeping your attention on the Lord’s pleasing songs and central beauty.

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 Is the Central BeautyThis 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 3.2.34? 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