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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa
10.11.1710.11.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mother Yaśodā furthersince 10.11.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

धूलिधूसरिताङ्गस्त्वं पुत्र मज्जनमावह ।

जन्मर्क्षं तेऽद्य भवति विप्रेभ्यो देहि गा: शुचि: ॥ १८ ॥

dhūli-dhūsaritāṅgas tvaṁ

putra majjanam āvaha

janmarkṣaṁ te ’dya bhavati

viprebhyo dehi gāḥ śuciḥ

Translation

Mother Yaśodā further told Kṛṣṇa: My dear son, because of playing all day, Your body has become covered with dust and sand. Therefore, come back, take Your bath and cleanse Yourself. Today the moon is conjoined with the auspicious star of Your birth. Therefore, be pure and give cows in charity to the brāhmaṇas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Be Enthusiastic in Charity

  1. 1

    Yaśodā called Kṛṣṇa to bathe because His body was covered with dust and sand. On this auspicious day of His birth star, she asked Him to give cows to the brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    Giving valuable cows to brāhmaṇas at auspicious ceremonies is a Vedic custom. Yaśodā wanted Kṛṣṇa to turn His enthusiasm from play toward charity.

  3. 3

    Sacrifice, charity and austerity should never be given up, even by those advanced in spiritual life. A birthday should be observed with one or more of these duties.

Key points from the purport
  • It is a custom of Vedic culture that whenever there is any auspicious ceremony, one should give valuable cows in charity to the brāhmaṇas.
  • Therefore mother Yaśodā requested Kṛṣṇa, “Instead of being enthusiastic in playing, now please come and be enthusiastic in charity.”
  • To observe one’s birthday ceremony, one should do something in terms of one of these three items (yajña, dāna or tapaḥ), or all of them together.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.11.18 quotesBG 18.5

As advised in Bhagavad-gītā (18.5), sacrifice, charity and austerity should never be given up.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this way, Kṛṣṇa, at every day and every moment, displayed wonderful incidents to increase the parental affection of Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, who thus felt both surprise and joy. The breaking of the yamala-arjunas was one of these wonderful pastimes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dhūli-dhūsarita-aṅgaḥ tvamYou have become covered with dust and sand all over Your body
  2. putramy dear son
  3. majjanam āvahanow come here, take Your bath and cleanse Yourself
  4. janma-ṛkṣamthe auspicious star of Your birth
  5. teof You
  6. adyatoday
  7. bhavatiit is
  8. viprebhyaḥunto the pure brāhmaṇas
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “cleanse”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “duties”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could I make my next birthday an occasion for charity rather than only enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside a small amount today for charity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBe Enthusiastic in CharityThis 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.

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