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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
10.13.3910.13.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.40

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
A turning point forLord Brahmā· Divine revelation

तावदेत्यात्मभूरात्ममानेन त्रुट्यनेहसा ।

पुरोवदाब्दं क्रीडन्तं दद‍ृशे सकलं हरिम् ॥ ४० ॥

tāvad etyātmabhūr ātma-

mānena truṭy-anehasā

purovad ābdaṁ krīḍantaṁ

dadṛśe sa-kalaṁ harim

Translation

When Lord Brahmā returned after a moment of time had passed (according to his own measurement), he saw that although by human measurement a complete year had passed, Lord Kṛṣṇa, after all that time, was engaged just as before in playing with the boys and calves, who were His expansions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes Continue Without Interruption

  1. 1

    Brahmā returned after only a moment by his measurement, although a year had passed on earth. The calculation of time differs on different planets.

  2. 2

    For that entire year, Kṛṣṇa maintained His expansions as the boys and calves. Through yoga-māyā, no one but Balarāma understood, and the same pastimes continued without change.

  3. 3

    Brahmā returned anxiously, knowing that Kṛṣṇa was his master. Baladeva was again at home for His birthday ceremonies, so Brahmā did not see Him among the boys.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā had gone away for only a moment of his time, but when he returned, a year of human time had passed.
  • Therefore, although this verse mentions that Brahmā saw Kṛṣṇa and all the cowherd boys, Baladeva is not mentioned.
  • It was five or six days earlier that Baladeva had inquired from Kṛṣṇa about the extraordinary affection of the cows and cowherd men, but now, when Brahmā returned, Brahmā saw all the calves and cowherd boys playing with Kṛṣṇa as expansions of Kṛṣṇa, but he did not see Baladeva.

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:

When one full year had passed, Brahmā returned and saw that Kṛṣṇa was still engaged as usual with His friends and the calves and cows. Then Kṛṣṇa exhibited all the calves and cowherd boys as four-armed forms of Nārāyaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāvatfor so long
  2. etyaafter returning
  3. ātma-bhūḥLord Brahmā
  4. ātma-mānenaby his (Brahmā’s) own measurement
  5. truṭi-anehasāby a moment’s time
  6. puraḥ-vatjust as previously
  7. ā-abdamfor one year (by human measurement of time)
  8. krīḍantamplaying
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 Brahmā’s anxiety remind me to approach Kṛṣṇa as my master rather than try to test Him?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to Kṛṣṇa as your master, asking to serve Him rather than test His power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Pastimes Continue Without InterruptionThis 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 10.13.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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