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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
10.11.4110.11.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.42

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

तं वत्सरूपिणं वीक्ष्य वत्सयूथगतं हरि: ।

दर्शयन् बलदेवाय शनैर्मुग्ध इवासदत् ॥ ४२ ॥

taṁ vatsa-rūpiṇaṁ vīkṣya

vatsa-yūtha-gataṁ hariḥ

darśayan baladevāya

śanair mugdha ivāsadat

Translation

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw that the demon had assumed the form of a calf and entered among the groups of other calves, He pointed out to Baladeva, “Here is another demon.” Then He very slowly approached the demon, as if He did not understand the demon’s intentions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Knows Beneath the Disguise

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, saw that the demon had taken the form of a calf and entered among the other calves.

  2. 2

    Although Kṛṣṇa knows everything, He pretended not to understand why the demon had come. The words mugdha iva indicate this apparent lack of understanding.

  3. 3

    He informed Baladeva by a sign and then approached the demon very slowly, as if unaware of the demon’s intentions.

Key points from the purport
  • The import of the words mugdha iva is that although Kṛṣṇa knows everything, here He pretended that He did not understand why the demon had entered among the calves, and He informed Baladeva by a sign.

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:

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. The playmates of Kṛṣṇa narrated all these stories to their mothers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamunto the demon
  2. vatsa-rūpiṇamassuming the form of a calf
  3. vīkṣyaseeing
  4. vatsa-yūtha-gatamwhen the demon entered the group of all the other calves
  5. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa
  6. darśayanindicating
  7. baladevāyaunto Baladeva
  8. śanaiḥvery slowly
  9. mugdhaḥ ivaas if He did not understand anything
  10. āsadatcame near the demon
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “understand”

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 knowing that Kṛṣṇa’s apparent innocence is deliberate deepen my understanding of Him?

Practice

Before your devotional service today, pause to remember that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and knows everything.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Knows Beneath the DisguiseThis 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 10.11.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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