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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
10.11.5310.11.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.54

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

श्रुत्वा तद्विस्मिता गोपा गोप्यश्चातिप्रियाद‍ृता: ।

प्रेत्यागतमिवोत्सुक्यादैक्षन्त तृषितेक्षणा: ॥ ५४ ॥

śrutvā tad vismitā gopā

gopyaś cātipriyādṛtāḥ

pretyāgatam ivotsukyād

aikṣanta tṛṣitekṣaṇāḥ

Translation

When the cowherd men and women heard about the killing of Bakāsura in the forest, they were very much astonished. Upon seeing Kṛṣṇa and hearing the story, they received Kṛṣṇa very eagerly, thinking that Kṛṣṇa and the other boys had returned from the mouth of death. Thus they looked upon Kṛṣṇa and the boys with silent eyes, not wanting to turn their eyes aside now that the boys were safe.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Keeps Their Eyes on Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The cowherd men and women were astonished to hear about the killing of Bakāsura. They eagerly received Kṛṣṇa and the boys as if they had returned from death.

  2. 2

    Because of intense love for Kṛṣṇa, they remained silent, thinking about how He and the boys had been saved.

  3. 3

    They looked upon Kṛṣṇa and the boys without wanting to turn their eyes aside.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of intense love for Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd men and women simply remained silent, thinking of how Kṛṣṇa and the boys had been saved.
  • The cowherd men and women looked upon Kṛṣṇa and the boys and did not desire to turn their eyes aside.

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:

The playmates of Kṛṣṇa narrated all these stories to their mothers. The mothers could not believe their children, Kṛṣṇa’s playmates, but because of full affection they enjoyed these narrations of Kṛṣṇa’s activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrutvāafter hearing
  2. tatthese incidents
  3. vismitāḥbeing struck with wonder
  4. gopāḥthe cowherd men
  5. gopyaḥ caand their respective wives
  6. ati-priya-ādṛtāḥreceived the news with great transcendental pleasure
  7. pretya āgatam ivathought that it was as if the boys had returned from death
  8. utsukyātwith great eagerness
  9. aikṣantabegan to look upon the boys
  10. tṛṣita-īkṣaṇāḥwith full satisfaction, they did not want to turn their eyes from Kṛṣṇa and the boys
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “safe”, “saved”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

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 cowherd men and women’s silent attention reveal about their love for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering their eager welcome and loving attention to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Keeps Their Eyes on KṛṣṇaThis 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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