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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
10.11.5010.11.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.51

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

तमापतन्तं स निगृह्य तुण्डयो-

र्दोर्भ्यां बकं कंससखं सतां पति: ।

पश्यत्सु बालेषु ददार लीलया

मुदावहो वीरणवद् दिवौकसाम् ॥ ५१ ॥

tam āpatantaṁ sa nigṛhya tuṇḍayor

dorbhyāṁ bakaṁ kaṁsa-sakhaṁ satāṁ patiḥ

paśyatsu bāleṣu dadāra līlayā

mudāvaho vīraṇavad divaukasām

Translation

When Kṛṣṇa, the leader of the Vaiṣṇavas, saw that the demon Bakāsura, the friend of Kaṁsa, was endeavoring to attack Him, with His arms He captured the demon by the two halves of the beak, and in the presence of all the cowherd boys Kṛṣṇa very easily bifurcated him, as a child splits a blade of vīraṇa grass. By thus killing the demon, Kṛṣṇa very much pleased the denizens of heaven.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Easily Defeats Bakāsura

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the leader of the Vaiṣṇavas, saw Bakāsura, the friend of Kaṁsa, coming to attack Him.

  2. 2

    In front of the cowherd boys, Kṛṣṇa seized the two halves of the demon's beak and split him apart.

  3. 3

    He did this as easily as a child splits a blade of vīraṇa grass. His killing of the demon greatly pleased the denizens of heaven.

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 Bakāsura
  2. āpatantamagain endeavoring to attack Him
  3. saḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  4. nigṛhyacapturing
  5. tuṇḍayoḥby the beak
  6. dorbhyāmwith His arms
  7. bakamBakāsura
  8. kaṁsa-sakhamwho was the friend and associate of Kaṁsa
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “friend”, “cowherd boys”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “child”

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 does the comparison to splitting grass show you about Kṛṣṇa's power?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on how easily Kṛṣṇa defeated Bakāsura, remembering Him as the leader of the Vaiṣṇavas.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.11's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Easily Defeats BakāsuraThis 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 10.11.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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