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 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura
10.11.5910.12.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.12.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

क्‍वचिद् वनाशाय मनो दधद्‌व्रजात्

प्रात: समुत्थाय वयस्यवत्सपान् ।

प्रबोधयञ्छृङ्गरवेण चारुणा

विनिर्गतो वत्सपुर:सरो हरि: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

kvacid vanāśāya mano dadhad vrajāt

prātaḥ samutthāya vayasya-vatsapān

prabodhayañ chṛṅga-raveṇa cāruṇā

vinirgato vatsa-puraḥsaro hariḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O King, one day Kṛṣṇa decided to take His breakfast as a picnic in the forest. Having risen early in the morning, He blew His bugle made of horn and woke all the cowherd boys and calves with its beautiful sound. Then Kṛṣṇa and the boys, keeping their respective groups of calves before them, proceeded from Vrajabhūmi to the forest.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Leads His Friends Into the Forest

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa decided to take His breakfast as a picnic in the forest.

  2. 2

    Rising early, He woke the cowherd boys and calves with the beautiful sound of His horn bugle.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa and the boys left Vrajabhūmi together, keeping their respective groups of calves before them.

How it feels

Peril and pride → Friendship and humility. Divinity is revealed amid intimate childhood play.

Chapters 12–19 of Canto 10: Childhood dangers and Brahmā's amazement. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day Kṛṣṇa wanted to enjoy a picnic lunch within the forest, and therefore He went out early into the forest with the other cowherd boys, accompanied by their respective groups of calves. While they were enjoying their picnic, Aghāsura, the younger brother of Pūtanā and Bakāsura, appeared there, desiring to kill Kṛṣṇa and His companions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. kvacitone day
  3. vana-āśāyajust to enjoy a picnic in the forest
  4. manaḥmind
  5. dadhatgave attention
  6. vrajātand went out of Vrajabhūmi
  7. prātaḥearly in the morning
  8. samutthāyawaking up
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What draws your attention in this scene of Kṛṣṇa gathering His friends?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering Kṛṣṇa sounding His horn and leading His friends into the forest.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Leads His Friends Into the ForestThis 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 10.12.1? 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