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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
10.13.2110.13.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.22

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

तन्मातरो वेणुरवत्वरोत्थिता

उत्थाप्य दोर्भि: परिरभ्य निर्भरम् ।

स्‍नेहस्‍नुतस्तन्यपय:सुधासवं

मत्वा परं ब्रह्म सुतानपाययन् ॥ २२ ॥

tan-mātaro veṇu-rava-tvarotthitā

utthāpya dorbhiḥ parirabhya nirbharam

sneha-snuta-stanya-payaḥ-sudhāsavaṁ

matvā paraṁ brahma sutān apāyayan

Translation

The mothers of the boys, upon hearing the sounds of the flutes and bugles being played by their sons, immediately rose from their household tasks, lifted their boys onto their laps, embraced them with both arms and began to feed them with their breast milk, which flowed forth because of extreme love specifically for Kṛṣṇa. Actually Kṛṣṇa is everything, but at that time, expressing extreme love and affection, they took special pleasure in feeding Kṛṣṇa, the Parabrahman, and Kṛṣṇa drank the milk from His respective mothers as if it were a nectarean beverage.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Fulfills His Devotees’ Loving Desire

  1. 1

    The elderly gopīs knew Kṛṣṇa was mother Yaśodā’s son, yet each desired to care for Him as her own son. Kṛṣṇa took the role of their sons to fulfill this inner ambition.

  2. 2

    By embracing and feeding Him, the mothers enhanced their special love for Kṛṣṇa. He accepted their milk as a nectarean beverage.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, received their loving care personally. While bewildering Brahmā, He enjoyed the transcendental pleasure created by yoga-māyā between the mothers and Himself.

Key points from the purport
  • Now, in order to please them, Kṛṣṇa personally took the role of their sons and fulfilled their desire.
  • They enhanced their special love for Kṛṣṇa by embracing Him and feeding Him, and Kṛṣṇa tasted their breast milk to be just like a nectarean beverage.
  • While thus bewildering Brahmā, He enjoyed the special transcendental pleasure created by yoga-māyā between all the other mothers and Himself.

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:

A special feature of this pastime was that the mothers of the cowherd boys thus became more attached to their respective sons, and the cows became more attached to their calves. After nearly a year, Baladeva observed that all the cowherd boys and calves were expansions of Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tat-mātaraḥthe mothers of the respective cowherd boys
  2. veṇu-ravabecause of the sounds played on flutes and bugles by the cowherd boys
  3. tvaraimmediately
  4. utthitāḥawakened from their respective household duties
  5. utthāpyaimmediately lifted their respective sons
  6. dorbhiḥwith their two arms
  7. parirabhyaembracing
  8. nirbharamwithout feeling any weight
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mothers”, “yaśodā’s”, “mother”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “household”

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

Do I desire to serve Kṛṣṇa with the personal affection shown by these mothers?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to express to Kṛṣṇa one sincere desire to serve Him with love.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.13's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Fulfills His Devotees’ Loving DesireThis 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 10.13.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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