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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
10.11.2010.11.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.11.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

गोपवृद्धा महोत्पाताननुभूय बृहद्वने ।

नन्दादय: समागम्य व्रजकार्यममन्त्रयन् ॥ २१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

gopa-vṛddhā mahotpātān

anubhūya bṛhadvane

nandādayaḥ samāgamya

vraja-kāryam amantrayan

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Then one time, having seen the great disturbances in Bṛhadvana, all the elderly persons among the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, assembled and began to consider what to do to stop the continuous disturbing situations in Vraja.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Facing Disturbances Together

  1. 1

    The elderly cowherd men had seen great disturbances in Bṛhadvana.

  2. 2

    Headed by Nanda Mahārāja, they assembled to consider what should be done.

  3. 3

    Their concern was to stop the continuous disturbing situations in Vraja.

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:

The children properly described how everything had happened, but the elderly persons could not believe the story. Some of them, however, thought that it might be true, since they had already seen many wonderful incidents in connection with Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. gopa-vṛddhāḥthe elderly persons among the cowherd men
  3. mahā-utpātānvery great disturbances
  4. anubhūyaafter experiencing
  5. bṛhadvanein the place known as Bṛhadvana
  6. nanda-ādayaḥthe cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja
  7. samāgamyaassembled, came together
  8. vraja-kāryamthe business of Vrajabhūmi
  9. amantrayandeliberated on how to stop the continuous disturbances in Mahāvana
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: “nanda”

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

When difficulties keep arising, do I seek thoughtful discussion with experienced people?

Practice

Ask an experienced person for advice about one recurring difficulty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFacing Disturbances TogetherThis 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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