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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa
10.11.4910.11.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.50

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 तालुमूलं प्रदहन्तमग्निवद्

गोपालसूनुं पितरं जगद्गुरो: ।

चच्छर्द सद्योऽतिरुषाक्षतं बक-

स्तुण्डेन हन्तुं पुनरभ्यपद्यत ॥ ५० ॥

taṁ tālu-mūlaṁ pradahantam agnivad

gopāla-sūnuṁ pitaraṁ jagad-guroḥ

caccharda sadyo ’tiruṣākṣataṁ bakas

tuṇḍena hantuṁ punar abhyapadyata

Translation

Kṛṣṇa, who was the father of Lord Brahmā but who was acting as the son of a cowherd man, became like fire, burning the root of the demon’s throat, and the demon Bakāsura immediately disgorged Him. When the demon saw that Kṛṣṇa, although having been swallowed, was unharmed, he immediately attacked Kṛṣṇa again with his sharp beak.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Our Approach to Kṛṣṇa Matters

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the father of Lord Brahmā, yet He was acting as the son of a cowherd man. He emerged from Bakāsura unharmed.

  2. 2

    Although Kṛṣṇa is always as soft as a lotus, He burned the demon's throat like fire. Although sweeter than sugar candy, He tasted bitter to Bakāsura.

  3. 3

    When Kṛṣṇa is accepted as an enemy, He becomes intolerable to the nondevotee. Bakāsura could not tolerate Him within or without and attacked Him again.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Kṛṣṇa is always as soft as a lotus, within the throat of Bakāsura He created a burning sensation of being hotter than fire.
  • Although Kṛṣṇa’s whole body is sweeter than sugar candy, Bakāsura tasted bitterness and therefore immediately vomited Kṛṣṇa up.
  • Here this is shown by the example of Bakāsura.

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 10.11.50 quotesBG 4.11

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.11), ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham.

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:

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamKṛṣṇa
  2. tālu-mūlamthe root of the throat
  3. pradahantamburning
  4. agni-vatlike fire
  5. gopāla-sūnumKṛṣṇa, the son of a cowherd man
  6. pitaramthe father
  7. jagat-guroḥof Lord Brahmā
  8. cacchardagot out of his mouth
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: “father”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “sweeter”

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

What kind of attitude do you want to cultivate when approaching Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a short prayer expressing your desire to approach Kṛṣṇa in devotional service rather than opposition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOur Approach to Kṛṣṇa MattersThis 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 10.11.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.