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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
10.13.3110.13.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.32

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

गोपास्तद्रोधनायासमौघ्यलज्जोरुमन्युना ।

दुर्गाध्वकृच्छ्रतोऽभ्येत्य गोवत्सैर्दद‍ृशु: सुतान् ॥ ३२ ॥

gopās tad-rodhanāyāsa-

maughya-lajjoru-manyunā

durgādhva-kṛcchrato ’bhyetya

go-vatsair dadṛśuḥ sutān

Translation

The cowherd men, having been unable to check the cows from going to their calves, felt simultaneously ashamed and angry. They crossed the rough road with great difficulty, but when they came down and saw their own sons, they were overwhelmed by great affection.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Affection for Kṛṣṇa Overcomes Anger

  1. 1

    The cowherd men felt ashamed and angry because they could not stop the cows from going to their calves.

  2. 2

    They crossed the rough road with great difficulty, but seeing their sons overwhelmed them with affection.

  3. 3

    Their sons were no one else than Kṛṣṇa. Thus their increased affection was actually affection for Him.

Key points from the purport
  • When the cowherd men coming down from the hill saw their own sons, who were no one else than Kṛṣṇa, their affection increased.

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. gopāḥthe cowherd men
  2. tat-rodhana-āyāsaof their attempt to stop the cows from going to their calves
  3. maughyaon account of the frustration
  4. lajjābeing ashamed
  5. uru-manyunāand at the same time becoming very angry
  6. durga-adhva-kṛcchrataḥalthough they passed the very rough way with great difficulty
  7. abhyetyaafter reaching there
  8. go-vatsaiḥalong with the calves
  9. dadṛśuḥsaw
  10. sutāntheir respective sons
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

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 knowing that the sons were Kṛṣṇa deepen my understanding of this affection?

Practice

Pause for a moment today to remember Kṛṣṇa as the object of the cowherd men’s growing affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAffection for Kṛṣṇa Overcomes AngerThis 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 10.13.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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