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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
10.13.2310.13.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.24

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

गावस्ततो गोष्ठमुपेत्य सत्वरं

हुङ्कारघोषै: परिहूतसङ्गतान् ।

स्वकान् स्वकान् वत्सतरानपाययन्

मुहुर्लिहन्त्य: स्रवदौधसं पय: ॥ २४ ॥

gāvas tato goṣṭham upetya satvaraṁ

huṅkāra-ghoṣaiḥ parihūta-saṅgatān

svakān svakān vatsatarān apāyayan

muhur lihantyaḥ sravad audhasaṁ payaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, all the cows entered their different sheds and began mooing loudly, calling for their respective calves. When the calves arrived, the mothers began licking the calves’ bodies again and again and profusely feeding them with the milk flowing from their milk bags.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Receives the Cows’ Affection

  1. 1

    The cows entered their respective sheds and called loudly for their calves.

  2. 2

    When the calves arrived, their mothers licked their bodies again and again. They fed them profusely with their flowing milk.

  3. 3

    All these dealings between the calves and their caring mothers were enacted by Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Key points from the purport
  • All the dealings between the calves and their respective mothers taking care of them were enacted by Kṛṣṇa 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. gāvaḥthe calves
  2. tataḥthereafter
  3. goṣṭhamto the cow sheds
  4. upetyareaching
  5. satvaramvery soon
  6. huṅkāra-ghoṣaiḥby making jubilant mooing sounds
  7. parihūta-saṅgatānto call the cows
  8. svakān svakānfollowing their respective mothers
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”

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

How does remembering Kṛṣṇa’s presence change my understanding of this affectionate scene?

Practice

Reread this scene once, remembering that these loving dealings were enacted by Kṛṣṇa Himself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Receives the Cows’ AffectionThis 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 10.13.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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