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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
10.11.1910.11.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.20

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

इत्थं यशोदा तमशेषशेखरं

मत्वा सुतं स्‍नेहनिबद्धधीर्नृप ।

हस्ते गृहीत्वा सहराममच्युतं

नीत्वा स्ववाटं कृतवत्यथोदयम् ॥ २० ॥

itthaṁ yaśodā tam aśeṣa-śekharaṁ

matvā sutaṁ sneha-nibaddha-dhīr nṛpa

haste gṛhītvā saha-rāmam acyutaṁ

nītvā sva-vāṭaṁ kṛtavaty athodayam

Translation

My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, because of intense love and affection, mother Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa’s mother, considered Kṛṣṇa, who was at the peak of all opulences, to be her own son. Thus she took Kṛṣṇa by the hand, along with Balarāma, and brought Them home, where she performed her duties by fully bathing Them, dressing Them and feeding Them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Inspires Service to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is at the peak of all opulences and is always neat and clean. He does not need to be washed, bathed or dressed.

  2. 2

    Because of intense love and affection, mother Yaśodā considered Kṛṣṇa her ordinary child. She took Him and Balarāma by the hand and brought Them home.

  3. 3

    She bathed, dressed and fed Them, doing her duties to keep her son brilliant. Her loving care shows service offered to Kṛṣṇa even though He needs nothing.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa is always neat, clean and opulent and does not need to be washed, bathed or dressed, yet mother Yaśodā, because of affection, considered Him her ordinary child and did her duties to keep her son brilliant.

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

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. itthamin this way
  2. yaśodāmother Yaśodā
  3. tam aśeṣa-śekharamunto Kṛṣṇa, who was on the peak of everything auspicious, with no question of dirtiness or uncleanliness
  4. matvāconsidering
  5. sutamas her son
  6. sneha-nibaddha-dhīḥbecause of an intense spirit of love
  7. nṛpaO King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
  8. hastein the hand
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”, “child”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “love”

  • 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 does Yaśodā’s care help me understand service motivated by love rather than by Kṛṣṇa’s need?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering Yaśodā bathing, dressing and feeding Kṛṣṇa with affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Inspires Service to KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.11.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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