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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
10.13.2210.13.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.23

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

ततो नृपोन्मर्दनमज्जलेपना-

लङ्काररक्षातिलकाशनादिभि: ।

संलालित: स्वाचरितै: प्रहर्षयन्

सायं गतो यामयमेन माधव: ॥ २३ ॥

tato nṛponmardana-majja-lepanā-

laṅkāra-rakṣā-tilakāśanādibhiḥ

saṁlālitaḥ svācaritaiḥ praharṣayan

sāyaṁ gato yāma-yamena mādhavaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, as required according to the scheduled round of His pastimes, Kṛṣṇa returned in the evening, entered the house of each of the cowherd boys, and engaged exactly like the former boys, thus enlivening their mothers with transcendental pleasure. The mothers took care of the boys by massaging them with oil, bathing them, smearing their bodies with sandalwood pulp, decorating them with ornaments, chanting protective mantras, decorating their bodies with tilaka and giving them food. In this way, the mothers served Kṛṣṇa personally.

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.

Loving Care Becomes Personal Service

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa returned in the evening and entered each cowherd boy’s home. He behaved exactly like the former boys, giving their mothers transcendental pleasure.

  2. 2

    The mothers massaged, bathed and decorated the boys. They also chanted protective mantras, applied tilaka and gave them food.

  3. 3

    Through all these acts of loving care, the mothers served Kṛṣṇa personally. Their care was direct service to Him.

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, just to examine the potency of Kṛṣṇa, Lord Brahmā took away all the calves and cowherd boys and kept them in a secluded place. When Kṛṣṇa was unable to find the calves and boys, He could understand that this was a trick performed by Brahmā.
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. nṛpaO King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
  3. unmardanaby massaging them with oil
  4. majjaby bathing
  5. lepanaby smearing the body with oil and sandalwood pulp
  6. alaṅkāraby decorating with ornaments
  7. rakṣāby chanting protective mantras
  8. tilakaby decorating the body with tilaka marks in twelve places
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “chanting”, “chanted”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “protective”

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 do the mothers’ attentive acts teach me about loving service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one act of care described here and spend a minute reflecting on the affection with which the mothers served Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Care Becomes Personal ServiceThis 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 10.13.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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