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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa
10.11.510.11.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.11.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.11.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forMother Yaśodā· Everyday Vraja life

उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं स्वमात्मजम् ।

विलोक्य नन्द: प्रहसद्वदनो विमुमोच ह ॥ ६ ॥

ulūkhalaṁ vikarṣantaṁ

dāmnā baddhaṁ svam ātmajam

vilokya nandaḥ prahasad-

vadano vimumoca ha

Translation

When Nanda Mahārāja saw his own son bound with ropes to the wooden mortar and dragging it, he smiled and released Kṛṣṇa from His bonds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Binds His Parents in Affection

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja saw Kṛṣṇa dragging the wooden mortar while bound with ropes. He smiled and released Him.

  2. 2

    Nanda Mahārāja was surprised that Yaśodā had bound her beloved child in this way. Yet he understood this exchange of love.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, binds a living entity in fruitive activities. In His pastime, He binds mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja in parental affection.

Key points from the purport
  • Nanda Mahārāja was surprised that Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa’s mother, could have bound her beloved child in such a way.
  • Nanda Mahārāja understood this exchange of love, and therefore he smiled and released Kṛṣṇa.
  • In other words, as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, binds a living entity in fruitive activities, He binds mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja in parental affection.

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:

Being surprised, Kṛṣṇa’s father, Nanda, and the other elderly inhabitants of Gokula went to the spot, where they saw the fallen trees and Kṛṣṇa standing between them, bound to the ulūkhala, the wooden mortar. They could find no cause for the trees’ having fallen and Kṛṣṇa’s being there.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ulūkhalamthe wooden mortar
  2. vikarṣantamdragging
  3. dāmnāby the rope
  4. baddhambound
  5. svam ātmajamhis own son Kṛṣṇa
  6. vilokyaby seeing
  7. nandaḥMahārāja Nanda
  8. prahasat-vadanaḥwhose face began to smile when he saw the wonderful child
  9. vimumoca hareleased Him from the bonds
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: “nanda”, “yaśodā”, “mother”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.11

    In this verse: “love”

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 Nanda Mahārāja’s smile help you understand this exchange of love?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Nanda Mahārāja smiling as he releases Kṛṣṇa from His bonds.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Binds His Parents in AffectionThis 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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