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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.15

Who is speaking and story frame

अम्भोजन्मजनिस्तदन्तरगतो मायार्भकस्येशितु-

र्द्रष्टुं मञ्जु महित्वमन्यदपि तद्वत्सानितो वत्सपान् ।

नीत्वान्यत्र कुरूद्वहान्तरदधात् खेऽवस्थितो य: पुरा

द‍ृष्ट्वाघासुरमोक्षणं प्रभवत: प्राप्त: परं विस्मयम् ॥ १५ ॥

ambhojanma-janis tad-antara-gato māyārbhakasyeśitur

draṣṭuṁ mañju mahitvam anyad api tad-vatsān ito vatsapān

nītvānyatra kurūdvahāntaradadhāt khe ’vasthito yaḥ purā

dṛṣṭvāghāsura-mokṣaṇaṁ prabhavataḥ prāptaḥ paraṁ vismayam

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Brahmā, who resides in the higher planetary system in the sky, had observed the activities of the most powerful Kṛṣṇa in killing and delivering Aghāsura, and he was astonished. Now that same Brahmā wanted to show some of his own power and see the power of Kṛṣṇa, who was engaged in His childhood pastimes, playing as if with ordinary cowherd boys. Therefore, in Kṛṣṇa’s absence, Brahmā took all the boys and calves to another place. Thus he became entangled, for in the very near future he would see how powerful Kṛṣṇa was.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Even Brahmā Must Learn From Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Brahmā was astonished by Kṛṣṇa’s activities and wanted to test Him. In trying to display his own power, he became entangled in Kṛṣṇa’s māyā.

  2. 2

    Anyone born through material energy is subject to mistakes, illusion, cheating and imperfect senses. Even Brahmā was subject to bewilderment.

  3. 3

    Brahmā took away boys and calves manifested by Kṛṣṇa’s māyā, not His personal associates. Everyone, from Brahmā to the smallest insect, must take lessons from Kṛṣṇa, the all-potent Supreme Person.

Key points from the purport
  • When Aghāsura was being killed by Kṛṣṇa, who was accompanied by His associates, Brahmā was astonished, but when he saw that Kṛṣṇa was very much enjoying His pastimes of lunch, he was even more astonished and wanted to test whether Kṛṣṇa was actually there.
  • Brahmā wanted to take away Kṛṣṇa’s associates, but instead he took away some other boys and calves.
  • Everyone, from Brahmā down to the small insect, must take lessons from 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.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 10.13.15 quotesBG 7.13

Mohitaṁ nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam. Even the demigods cannot understand Him (muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ).

The purport of SB 10.13.15 quotesSB 1.1.1

Tene brahmā hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye. Everyone, from Brahmā down to the small insect, must take lessons from Kṛṣṇa.

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 13: The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahmā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The calves, being allured by green grasses, gradually went far away, and therefore Kṛṣṇa’s associates became a little agitated and wanted to bring back the calves. Kṛṣṇa, however, encouraged the boys by saying, “You take your tiffin without being agitated.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ambhojanma-janiḥLord Brahmā, who was born from a lotus flower
  2. tat-antara-gataḥnow became entangled with the affairs of Kṛṣṇa, who was enjoying luncheon pastimes with His cowherd boys
  3. māyā-arbhakasyaof the boys made by Kṛṣṇa’s māyā
  4. īśituḥof the supreme controller
  5. draṣṭumjust to see
  6. mañjuvery pleasing
  7. mahitvam anyat apiother glories of the Lord also
  8. tat-vatsāntheir calves
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “illusion”, “māyā”, “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “childhood”

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

Where might confidence in your own understanding make it harder to learn from Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read one sentence of this purport again with the intention to learn rather than test or judge.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayEven Brahmā Must Learn From 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 10.13.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.