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
10.11.5810.12.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.59

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

एवं विहारै: कौमारै: कौमारं जहतुर्व्रजे ।

निलायनै: सेतुबन्धैर्मर्कटोत्‍प्लवनादिभि: ॥ ५९ ॥

evaṁ vihāraiḥ kaumāraiḥ

kaumāraṁ jahatur vraje

nilāyanaiḥ setu-bandhair

markaṭotplavanādibhiḥ

Translation

In this way Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma passed Their childhood age in Vrajabhūmi by engaging in activities of childish play, such as playing hide-and-seek, constructing a make-believe bridge on the ocean, and jumping here and there like monkeys.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Joyful Childhood Play

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma passed Their childhood in Vrajabhūmi, engaging in many kinds of childish play.

  2. 2

    They played hide-and-seek and constructed a make-believe bridge on the ocean.

  3. 3

    They also jumped here and there like monkeys. These playful activities were part of Their childhood pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Tenth Canto, Eleventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.”

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. evamin this way
  2. vihāraiḥby different pastimes
  3. kaumāraiḥchildish
  4. kaumāramthe age of childhood
  5. jahatuḥ(Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma) passed
  6. vrajein Vrajabhūmi
  7. nilāyanaiḥby playing hide-and-seek
  8. setu-bandhaiḥby constructing an artificial bridge on the ocean
  9. markaṭalike the monkeys
  10. utplavana-ādibhiḥby jumping here and there, etc
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “childhood”

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

Which detail of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s childhood play draws my attention most?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and spend one minute remembering one of Their playful activities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Joyful Childhood PlayThis 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 10.11.59? 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