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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 10.11.57

Who is speaking and story frame

अहो ब्रह्मविदां वाचो नासत्या: सन्ति कर्हिचित् ।

गर्गो यदाह भगवानन्वभावि तथैव तत् ॥ ५७ ॥

aho brahma-vidāṁ vāco

nāsatyāḥ santi karhicit

gargo yad āha bhagavān

anvabhāvi tathaiva tat

Translation

The words of persons in full knowledge of Brahman never become untrue. It is very wonderful that whatever Garga Muni predicted we are now actually experiencing in all detail.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Knowledge and Deep Affection for Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The purpose of human life is to inquire about Brahman. To make life perfect, one must learn about Brahman.

  2. 2

    By studying the Vedas, Garga Muni could know the past, present and future. Nanda Mahārāja marveled that his predictions were coming true in every detail.

  3. 3

    Because of intense affection, Nanda Mahārāja could not understand Kṛṣṇa’s identity and potency. Kṛṣṇa is Nārāyaṇa Himself, but Garga Muni did not disclose this directly.

Key points from the purport
  • Garga Muni was able to know everything, past, present and future, by studying the Vedas, but Nanda Mahārāja could not understand Kṛṣṇa directly.
  • Because of his intense love for Kṛṣṇa, he forgot who Kṛṣṇa was and could not understand Kṛṣṇa’s potency.
  • Thus Nanda Mahārāja appreciated the words of Garga Muni, but because of his deep affection he could not understand who Kṛṣṇa was, although Garga Muni had said that Kṛṣṇa’s qualities would be exactly like those of Nārāyaṇa.

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. ahohow wonderful it is
  2. brahma-vidāmof persons who have full knowledge of Brahman, transcendence
  3. vācaḥthe words
  4. nanever
  5. asatyāḥuntruth
  6. santibecome
  7. karhicitat any time
  8. gargaḥGarga Muni
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “inquire”, “understand”

  • 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

What does this passage teach me about Nanda Mahārāja’s deep affection for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside five minutes to reread this purport, noting its teaching about inquiry into Brahman.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnowledge and Deep Affection for 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.11.57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.