FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.65.13

कथं नु गृह्णन्त्यनवस्थितात्मनो वच: कृतघ्नस्य बुधा: पुरस्‍त्रिय: । गृह्णन्ति वै चित्रकथस्य सुन्दर- स्मितावलोकोच्छ्वसितस्मरातुरा: ॥ १३ ॥
kathaṁ nu gṛhṇanty anavasthitātmano
[katham nu grihnanty anavasthitaatmano]
vacaḥ kṛta-ghnasya budhāḥ pura-striyaḥ
[vachah krita-ghnasya budhaah pura-striyah]
gṛhṇanti vai citra-kathasya sundara-
[grihnanti vai chitra-kathasya sundara-]
smitāvalokocchvasita-smarāturāḥ
[smitaavalokochchvasita-smaraaturaah]
katham — how nu — indeed gṛhṇanti — do they accept anavasthita — unsteady ātmanaḥ — of Him whose heart vacaḥ — the words kṛta - ghnasya — who is ungrateful budhāḥ — intelligent pura — of the city striyaḥ — women gṛhṇanti — they accept vai — indeed citra — wonderful kathasya — whose narrations sundara — beautifully smita — smiling avaloka — by the glances ucchvasita — brought to life smara — by lust āturāḥ — agitated .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kathaṁ nu gṛhṇanty anavasthitātmano
katham
how
nu
indeed
gṛhṇanti
do they accept
anavasthita
unsteady
ātmanaḥ
of Him whose heart
vacaḥ kṛta-ghnasya budhāḥ pura-striyaḥ
vacaḥ
the words
kṛta - ghnasya
who is ungrateful
budhāḥ
intelligent
pura
of the city
striyaḥ
women
gṛhṇanti vai citra-kathasya sundara-
gṛhṇanti
they accept
vai
indeed
citra
wonderful
kathasya
whose narrations
sundara
beautifully
smitāvalokocchvasita-smarāturāḥ
smita
smiling
avaloka
by the glances
ucchvasita
brought to life
smara
by lust
āturāḥ
agitated .
  • anavasthita — unsteady
    An (not) + ava-sthita (settled). The gopīs accuse Kṛṣṇa of being un-fixed — but Gauḍīya commentators (Viśvanātha) note that this is precisely the sākṣāt cause of mādhurya-rasa's depth: His unsteadiness keeps prema in continuous motion.
  • kṛta - ghnasya — who is ungrateful
    Compound: kṛta (what was done) + ghna (destroyer). 'One who destroys what was done for Him.' The harshest word the gopīs use — and Gauḍīyas read it as the highest praise in reverse: only the closest devotee can speak this way and not be wrong.
  • citra — wonderful
    Lit. 'variegated, painted.' His narrations are kathā-citra — picture-like. The gopīs admit the aesthetic power of His speech even while accusing Him of using it.
  • sundara — beautifully
    Beautiful. Modifies smita (smile). The smile is named the way one names a weapon — these gopīs know exactly what undid them and what will now undo the city women.
  • smita — smiling
    The famous smile. Rūpa Gosvāmī treats smita as a primary anubhāva in mādhurya — the visible signal that releases the lover's bhāva. The gopīs are diagnosing how the same signal will work on Mathurā's women.
  • smara — by lust
    Smara — Kāma, the god of desire. The gopīs project that the city women are 'lust-agitated' (āturāḥ). Gauḍīyas distinguish carefully: gopī-prema is kāma-rūpā but uncoupled from svārtha — same surface, opposite substance.
“How can intelligent city women possibly trust the words of one whose heart is so unsteady and who is so ungrateful? They must believe Him because He speaks so wonderfully, and also because His beautiful smiling glances arouse their lust.

According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, some gopīs speak the first two lines of this verse, and others reply in the second two lines.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
"How can intelligent city women possibly trust the words of one whose heart is so unsteady and who is so ungrateful? They must believe Him because He speaks so wonderfully, and also because His beautiful smiling glances arouse their lust.
Commentary

"I suppose we uncultured women are unintelligent, but how can the city women being very intelligent believe his words?" That is expressed in this verse. Other gopis speak to bring out the conclusion. "Though he speaks lies, it is very exciting and astonishing when those words come from his mouth (citra kathasya). Not being able to give up the taste of those talks, they continue to listen. There is also another reason. They are afflicted by love caused and increasing at every moment by his beautiful smiling glances."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Being unintelligent we believed his words. But city women are intelligent. How could they believe him? Wounded internally by the pain arising from their prema, they speak. Nu indicates amazement. How could city women accept or believe his words? They should not. Why? His heart is not steady and he destroys (ghna) the friendship made with us and others. Because they are city women they are intelligent. Still it has happened. Ah, we can understand after remembering (vai). Even without hearing his words they become bewildered—by his smile and his glance. That we remember. Or when he speaks on various attractive topics and they become afflicted with lust by his beautiful smile and glances, they lose their power of discrimination.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)
Related verses
The gopīs accuse Kṛṣṇa, half-jokingly, of being fickle for city women. Love expresses itself in mock complaint when separation lasts too long — even our protests become prayers.
Reflection Questions
  • What lament in my prayer life might actually be a form of intimacy with God?
  • Where am I afraid to bring honest complaint into my conversation with Kṛṣṇa?

A jilted lover, hearing that her beloved is now a celebrity in the capital, exclaims: 'how can those clever city women possibly trust him?' — and answers her own question in the next breath: 'oh, they believe him because of how he smiles.' She knows the smile. She named it.

📝 My note

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