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

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.38

Who is speaking and story frame

नैतद् विचित्रं मनुजार्भमायिन:

परावराणां परमस्य वेधस: ।

अघोऽपि यत्स्पर्शनधौतपातक:

प्रापात्मसाम्यं त्वसतां सुदुर्लभम् ॥ ३८ ॥

naitad vicitraṁ manujārbha-māyinaḥ

parāvarāṇāṁ paramasya vedhasaḥ

agho ’pi yat-sparśana-dhauta-pātakaḥ

prāpātma-sāmyaṁ tv asatāṁ sudurlabham

Translation

Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all causes. The causes and effects of the material world, both higher and lower, are all created by the Supreme Lord, the original controller. When Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, He did so by His causeless mercy. Consequently, for Him to exhibit His unlimited opulence was not at all wonderful. Indeed, He showed such great mercy that even Aghāsura, the most sinful miscreant, was elevated to being one of His associates and achieving sārūpya-mukti, which is actually impossible for materially contaminated persons to attain.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nothing Is Impossible for Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Out of love, Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Nanda Mahārāja and assumed the form of a human child.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all causes, the creator of cause and effect, and the supreme controller. Nothing is impossible for Him.

  3. 3

    Through Kṛṣṇa’s playful association, Aghāsura was purified of all contamination and attained sārūpya-mukti by His grace. Such mercy was not at all wonderful for Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore the word māyinaḥ indicates that Kṛṣṇa, out of love, appeared as the son of Nanda Mahārāja and assumed the form of a human child (manujārbha).
  • Therefore, that He enabled even a living being like Aghāsura to attain the salvation of sārūpya-mukti was not at all wonderful for Kṛṣṇa.
  • Therefore, when Aghāsura, by that sporting association, as maintained in the spiritual world, was purified of all contamination, he attained sārūpya-mukti and vimukti by the grace 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

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. nanot
  2. etatthis
  3. vicitramis wonderful
  4. manuja-arbha-māyinaḥof Kṛṣṇa, who appeared as the son of Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, being compassionate upon them
  5. para-avarāṇāmof all causes and effects
  6. paramasya vedhasaḥof the supreme creator
  7. aghaḥ apiAghāsura also
  8. yat-sparśanasimply by the slight association of whom
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “sinful”, “contaminated”, “purified”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”, “grace”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “nanda”, “child”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering Kṛṣṇa as the supreme controller strengthen my trust in His mercy?

Practice

Pause today to remember that Kṛṣṇa’s appearance as a child expresses His love, not a limit on His power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNothing Is Impossible 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 10.12.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.