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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.53

Who is speaking and story frame

मुक्तं बकास्यादुपलभ्य बालका

रामादय: प्राणमिवेन्द्रियो गण: ।

स्थानागतं तं परिरभ्य निर्वृता:

प्रणीय वत्सान् व्रजमेत्य तज्जगु: ॥ ५३ ॥

muktaṁ bakāsyād upalabhya bālakā

rāmādayaḥ prāṇam ivendriyo gaṇaḥ

sthānāgataṁ taṁ parirabhya nirvṛtāḥ

praṇīya vatsān vrajam etya taj jaguḥ

Translation

Just as the senses are pacified when consciousness and life return, so when Kṛṣṇa was freed from this danger, all the boys, including Balarāma, thought that their life had been restored. They embraced Kṛṣṇa in good consciousness, and then they collected their own calves and returned to Vrajabhūmi, where they declared the incident loudly.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sharing Kṛṣṇa’s Activities Through Song

  1. 1

    When Kṛṣṇa was freed from danger, the boys, including Balarāma, felt as if their life had been restored. They embraced Him with relief.

  2. 2

    The inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi composed poetry about Kṛṣṇa’s activities of killing the asuras, or had professional poets compose it.

  3. 3

    They sang about these incidents. After collecting their calves and returning to Vrajabhūmi, the boys sang very loudly.

Key points from the purport
  • It was the practice of the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi to compose poetry about the incidents that occurred in the forest when Kṛṣṇa performed His different activities of killing the asuras.
  • They would compose all the stories in poetry or have this done by professional poets, and then they would sing about these incidents.
  • Thus it is written here that the boys sang very loudly.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. muktamthus released
  2. baka-āsyātfrom the mouth of Bakāsura
  3. upalabhyagetting back
  4. bālakāḥall the boys, the playmates
  5. rāma-ādayaḥheaded by Balarāma
  6. prāṇamlife
  7. ivalike
  8. indriyaḥsenses
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “danger”

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 might singing about Kṛṣṇa help me express affection for Him?

Practice

Compose and sing two simple lines about the boys’ joy when Kṛṣṇa returned safely.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySharing Kṛṣṇa’s Activities Through SongThis 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 10.11.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.