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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura
10.12.2910.12.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The boyssince 10.12.19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्कृष्णस्त्वव्यय: सार्भवत्सकम् ।

चूर्णीचिकीर्षोरात्मानं तरसा ववृधे गले ॥ ३० ॥

tac chrutvā bhagavān kṛṣṇas

tv avyayaḥ sārbha-vatsakam

cūrṇī-cikīrṣor ātmānaṁ

tarasā vavṛdhe gale

Translation

When the invincible Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, heard the demigods crying “Alas! Alas!” from behind the clouds, He immediately enlarged Himself within the demon’s throat, just to save Himself and the cowherd boys, His own associates, from the demon who wished to smash them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Protects His Associates

  1. 1

    The invincible Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, heard the demigods’ cries and immediately enlarged Himself within the demon’s throat.

  2. 2

    By enlarging Himself, Kṛṣṇa suffocated and killed the demon who wished to smash Him and His associates.

  3. 3

    He saved Himself and His associates from imminent death and also saved the demigods from lamentation.

Key points from the purport
  • By enlarging Himself within the throat of the demon, Kṛṣṇa suffocated and killed him and at the same time saved Himself and His associates from imminent death and also saved the demigods from lamentation.

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 10.12.30 quotesBG 4.8

Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. By enlarging Himself within the throat of the demon, Kṛṣṇa suffocated and killed him and at the same time saved Himself and His associates from imminent death and also saved the demigods from lamentation.

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

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:

For a crooked, sinful person there is no scope for sāyujya-mukti, or becoming one with the effulgence of Kṛṣṇa, but because the Supreme Personality of Godhead entered the body of Aghāsura, by His touch this demon got the opportunity to merge into the existence of the Brahman effulgence and thus attain sāyujya-mukti. When this pastime was performed, Kṛṣṇa was only five years old.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat exclamation of hā-hā
  2. śrutvāhearing
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. kṛṣṇaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  5. tuindeed
  6. avyayaḥnever vanquishable
  7. sa-arbha-vatsakamalong with the cowherd boys and the calves
  8. cūrṇī-cikīrṣoḥof that demon, who desired to smash within the abdomen
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “crying”, “lamentation”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “heard”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this act reveal to you about Kṛṣṇa’s power to protect His associates?

Practice

Offer a short prayer appreciating Kṛṣṇa’s protection of His cowherd friends.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Protects His AssociatesThis 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 10.12.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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