Canto 10 · Chapter 19 · 16 verses · 1 story
Swallowing the Forest Fire
Kṛṣṇa swallows a forest fire and saves the cows and cowherd boys.
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.
What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects
Chapter summary
This chapter describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa saved the cows and the cowherd boys from a great fire in the Muñjāraṇya forest.
One day the cowherd boys became absorbed in sporting and allowed the cows to wander into a dense forest. Suddenly a forest fire blazed up, and to escape its flames the cows took refuge in a grove of sharp canes. When the cowherd boys missed their animals, they went searching for them, following their hoofprints and the trail of blades of grass and other plants they had trampled or had broken with their teeth. Finally the boys found the cows and removed them from the cane forest, but by that time the forest fire had grown strong and was threatening both the boys and the cows. Thus the cowherd boys took shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystic power, who told them to close their eyes. They did so, and in a moment He had swallowed up the fierce forest fire and brought them all back to the Bhāṇḍīra tree mentioned in the last chapter. Seeing this wonderful display of mystic potency, the cowherd boys thought Kṛṣṇa must be a demigod, and they began to praise Him. Then they all returned home.
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7 verses on Poṣaṇa (The Lord's protection).
Verse map · 16 texts
- SB 10.19.8Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
Taking Shelter When Fear Arises
As the cows and cowherd boys stared at the forest fire attacking them on all sides, they became fearful. The boys then approached Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma for shelter, just as those who are disturbed by fear of death approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The boys addressed Them as follows.
- SB 10.19.9Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
The Devotees Pray for Protection
[The cowherd boys said:] O Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Most powerful one! O Rāma! You whose prowess never fails! Please save Your devotees, who are about to be burned by this forest fire and have come to take shelter of You!
- SB 10.19.10Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
Accepting Kṛṣṇa as Our Lord
Kṛṣṇa! Certainly Your own friends shouldn’t be destroyed. O knower of the nature of all things, we have accepted You as our Lord, and we are souls surrendered unto You!
- SB 10.19.11Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
Kṛṣṇa Reassures His Beloved Friends
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing these pitiful words from His friends, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa told them, “Just close your eyes and do not be afraid.”
- SB 10.19.12Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
Kṛṣṇa Saves His Friends From Danger
“All right,” the boys replied, and immediately closed their eyes. Then the Supreme Lord, the master of all mystic power, opened His mouth and swallowed the terrible fire, saving His friends from danger.
- SB 10.19.13Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
Amazed by Kṛṣṇa’s Rescue
The cowherd boys opened their eyes and were amazed to find not only that they and the cows had been saved from the terrible fire but that they had all been brought back to the Bhāṇḍīra tree.
- SB 10.19.14Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionStudy
Loving Friendship Beyond Astonishing Power
When the cowherd boys saw that they had been saved from the forest fire by the Lord’s mystic power, which is manifested by His internal potency, they began to think that Kṛṣṇa must be a demigod.