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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 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura
10.12.510.12.7-11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.6

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

यदि दूरं गत: कृष्णो वनशोभेक्षणाय तम् ।

अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमिति संस्पृश्य रेमिरे ॥ ६ ॥

yadi dūraṁ gataḥ kṛṣṇo

vana-śobhekṣaṇāya tam

ahaṁ pūrvam ahaṁ pūrvam

iti saṁspṛśya remire

Translation

Sometimes Kṛṣṇa would go to a somewhat distant place to see the beauty of the forest. Then all the other boys would run to accompany Him, each one saying, “I shall be the first to run and touch Kṛṣṇa! I shall touch Kṛṣṇa first!” In this way they enjoyed life by repeatedly touching Kṛṣṇa.

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.

Eager to Be Close to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Sometimes Kṛṣṇa went a little distance away to see the beauty of the forest.

  2. 2

    The boys ran after Him, each eagerly saying that he would be the first to touch Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    By repeatedly touching Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd boys enjoyed life.

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. yadiif
  2. dūramto a distant place
  3. gataḥwent
  4. kṛṣṇaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. vana-śobhathe beauty of the forest
  6. īkṣaṇāyafor visiting and enjoying
  7. tamunto Kṛṣṇa
  8. ahamI
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”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What touches you about the boys’ eagerness to accompany Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering the boys running toward Kṛṣṇa, each eager to reach Him first.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEager to Be Close to 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.

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