1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.11.5510.11.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.56

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārājasince 10.11.55inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथाप्यभिभवन्त्येनं नैव ते घोरदर्शना: ।

जिघांसयैनमासाद्य नश्यन्त्यग्नौ पतङ्गवत् ॥ ५६ ॥

athāpy abhibhavanty enaṁ

naiva te ghora-darśanāḥ

jighāṁsayainam āsādya

naśyanty agnau pataṅgavat

Translation

Although the causes of death, the daityas, were very fierce, they could not kill this boy Kṛṣṇa. Rather, because they came to kill innocent boys, as soon as they approached they themselves were killed, exactly like flies attacking a fire.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is Always Victorious

  1. 1

    Although the daityas were fierce, they could not kill Kṛṣṇa. They themselves were killed when they approached to harm the innocent boys.

  2. 2

    Nanda Mahārāja compared Kṛṣṇa to fire and the demons to flies. In a fight between fire and flies, the fire is always victorious.

  3. 3

    Ordinary living beings are subject to karma, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always victorious over the demons. Those who oppose His control meet death life after life.

Key points from the purport
  • Nanda Mahārāja innocently thought, “Perhaps this boy Kṛṣṇa formerly killed all these demons, and therefore in this life they are envious and are attacking Him.
  • But Kṛṣṇa is a fire, and they are flies, and in a fight between fire and flies, the fire is always victorious.”
  • Ordinary living beings are subject to karma, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always victorious over the demons.

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 10.11.56 quotesBG 4.8

Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. Anyone who is against the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be killed, life after life.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. atha apialthough they come to attack
  2. abhibhavantithey are able to kill
  3. enamthis boy
  4. nanot
  5. evacertainly
  6. teall of them
  7. ghora-darśanāḥvery fierce looking
  8. jighāṁsayābecause of envy
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”

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 the comparison of fire and flies help me understand Kṛṣṇa’s power?

Practice

Write down the distinction taught here: living beings are subject to karma, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always victorious.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Always VictoriousThis 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 10.11.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories