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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

10.11.36 10.11.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.37

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

एवं व्रजौकसां प्रीतिं यच्छन्तौ बालचेष्टितै: ।

कलवाक्यै: स्वकालेन वत्सपालौ बभूवतु: ॥ ३७ ॥

evaṁ vrajaukasāṁ prītiṁ

yacchantau bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ

kala-vākyaiḥ sva-kālena

vatsa-pālau babhūvatuḥ

Translation

In this way, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, acting like small boys and talking in half-broken language, gave transcendental pleasure to all the inhabitants of Vraja. In due course of time, They became old enough to take care of the calves.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learning Through Useful Work and Personal Example

1
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma gave transcendental pleasure to the inhabitants of Vraja through Their childhood activities and sweet, half-broken speech.
2
Although They belonged to a very well-to-do family, They began tending calves when They were old enough. The purport describes education as practical training for one’s responsibilities.
3
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma taught by Their personal behavior. Kṛṣṇa cared for cows and played His flute, while Balarāma took care of agricultural activities with a plow.

Key points from the purport

As soon as Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were a little grown up, They were meant for taking care of the calves.
Although born of a very well-to-do family, They still had to take care of the calves.
Kṛṣṇa took care of the cows and played His flute, and Balarāma took care of agricultural activities with a plow in His hand.

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

Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In Vṛndāvana, both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, after finishing Their childhood pastimes, began to take charge of the calves and send them to the pasturing grounds ( go-caraṇa). During this time, a demon named Vatsāsura entered among the calves and was killed, and another asura, in the shape of a big duck, was also killed.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.11

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

evamin this way
vraja-okasāmto all the inhabitants of Vraja
prītimpleasure
yacchantaugiving
bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥby the activities and pastimes of childhood
kala-vākyaiḥand by very sweet broken language
sva-kālenain due course of time
vatsa-pālauto take care of the calves
babhūvatuḥwere grown up

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: “childhood”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.11
In this verse: “sweet”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I learning skills that help me carry out my responsibilities rather than merely collecting information?

Practice

Spend five minutes practicing one useful skill needed for your daily responsibilities.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearning Through Useful Work and Personal ExampleThis 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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