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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 13: The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahmā
10.13.1710.13.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.13.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत: कृष्णो मुदं कर्तुं तन्मातृणां च कस्य च ।

उभयायितमात्मानं चक्रे विश्वकृदीश्वर: ॥ १८ ॥

tataḥ kṛṣṇo mudaṁ kartuṁ

tan-mātṝṇāṁ ca kasya ca

ubhayāyitam ātmānaṁ

cakre viśva-kṛd īśvaraḥ

Translation

Thereafter, just to create pleasure both for Brahmā and for the mothers of the calves and cowherd boys, Kṛṣṇa, the creator of the entire cosmic manifestation, expanded Himself as calves and boys.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Expands Himself to Give Pleasure

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the creator of the entire cosmic manifestation, expanded Himself as the missing calves and cowherd boys.

  2. 2

    He did this to give pleasure to Brahmā and to the mothers of the boys and calves. He restored the forest lunch pastimes with everyone appearing just as before.

  3. 3

    The Personality of Godhead can become millions upon millions of calves and boys. These expansions would astonish and further bewilder Brahmā.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the Vedas, ekaṁ bahu syām: the Personality of Godhead can become many, many millions upon millions of calves and cowherd boys, as He did to bewilder Brahmā more and more.

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 13: The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahmā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, in order to please Lord Brahmā, as well as His own associates and their mothers, expanded Himself to become the calves and boys, exactly as they were before. In this way, He discovered another pastime.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. kṛṣṇaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. mudampleasure
  4. kartumto create
  5. tat-mātṝṇām caof the mothers of the cowherd boys and calves
  6. kasya caand (the pleasure) of Brahmā
  7. ubhayāyitamexpansion, both as the calves and as the cowherd boys
  8. ātmānamHimself
  9. cakredid
  10. viśva-kṛt īśvaraḥit was not difficult for Him, for He is the creator of the whole cosmic manifestation
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 10.13

    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: “mothers”

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

What does this expansion reveal about Kṛṣṇa’s power to give pleasure?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s ability to become many while restoring His friends’ lunch pastimes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Expands Himself to Give PleasureThis 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 10.13.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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