Canto 10: The Summum Bonum
SB10.26

Canto 10 · Chapter 26 · 25 verses · 1 story

Wonderful Kṛṣṇa

Nanda answers the astonished cowherds by repeating Garga Muni’s descriptions of Kṛṣṇa’s greatness.

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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.

Connected storiesPūtanāKāliyaKaṁsa
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

In this chapter Nanda Mahārāja describes Kṛṣṇa’s opulences to the cowherd men, as Nanda had heard of them from Garga Muni.

The cowherd men, unaware of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s power, were amazed to see His various extraordinary activities. The men approached Nanda Mahārāja and told him that after seeing how Kṛṣṇa, a boy only seven years old, had lifted a mountain, and how He had previously killed the demoness Pūtanā and generated extreme attraction in the hearts of everyone in Vṛndāvana, the men had become doubtful and bewildered about how Śrī Kṛṣṇa could possibly have taken birth in the unsuitable environment of a cowherd community. Nanda replied by relating to them what Garga Muni had told him about Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Garga Muni had said that in the previous three ages Nanda’s boy had manifested Himself in white, red and yellow forms, whereas now, in the Dvāpara age, He had assumed His darkish-blue form, kṛṣṇa-rūpa. Because He descended as the son of Vasudeva, one of His many names is Vāsudeva, and He has innumerable other names indicating His many qualities and activities.

Garga Muni had predicted that Kṛṣṇa would prevent all sorts of catastrophes in Gokula, spread unlimited auspiciousness, and increase the ecstasy of the cowherd men and women. In a previous age He had provided protection for the saintly brāhmaṇas when they were harassed by low-class dacoits and there was no proper ruler in society. As the demons in the higher planets can never defeat the demigods who have Lord Viṣṇu on their side, no enemy can ever defeat those who love Kṛṣṇa. In His affinity for His devotees and in His opulence and power, Kṛṣṇa is just like Lord Nārāyaṇa Himself.

Overjoyed and awestruck by Garga Muni’s statements, the cowherd men concluded that Kṛṣṇa must be an empowered representative of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. Thus they worshiped Him and Nanda Mahārāja.

In this chapter

Who · Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja, Indra, Surabhi, the residents of Vraja

The story · Kṛṣṇa persuaded the cowherds to worship the cows, brāhmaṇas, and Govardhana Hill instead of performing their intended sacrifice to Indra. Furious, Indra sent destructive clouds, rain, and hail against Vraja. Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana with one hand and sheltered the entire cowherd community beneath it for seven days. Afterward, Nanda repeated Garga Muni’s words about Kṛṣṇa to the astonished cowherds. Ashamed, Indra approached the Lord, offered prayers, and joined Surabhi in a bathing ceremony to honor Him.

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa protects His surrendered devotees and removes the false pride of those who imagine themselves independent controllers. His correction is meant for their relief.

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa’s unlimited power remains present even in His infant pastimes. Hearing these activities cleanses the mind.

As a mere infant who had hardly yet opened His eyes, He drank the breast milk of the powerful demoness Pūtanā and then sucked out her very life air as well, just as the force of time sucks out the youth of one’s body.

Thus in the case of the powerful witch Pūtanā, Lord Kṛṣṇa accelerated the time process and within an instant withdrew the duration of her life.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.26.4 (Text 4)
Read the story in SB 10.5–7

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa appears by His own spiritual energy, not as an ordinary conditioned soul. His name, form, and attributes are understood through devotional service.

…has especially indicated in this connection that just as Lord Kṛṣṇa’s associates could not be defeated by Kaṁsa, so His modern-day devotees will not be defeated by their demoniac opponents, nor will the Lord’s devotees be defeated by the internal enemies —…

Read the story in SB 10.1–4