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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
10.13.4210.13.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.43

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

एवमेतेषु भेदेषु चिरं ध्यात्वा स आत्मभू: ।

सत्या: के कतरे नेति ज्ञातुं नेष्टे कथञ्चन ॥ ४३ ॥

evam eteṣu bhedeṣu

ciraṁ dhyātvā sa ātma-bhūḥ

satyāḥ ke katare neti

jñātuṁ neṣṭe kathañcana

Translation

Thus Lord Brahmā, thinking and thinking for a long time, tried to distinguish between those two sets of boys, who were each separately existing. He tried to understand who was real and who was not real, but he couldn’t understand at all.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brahmā’s Reasoning Could Not Resolve His Bewilderment

  1. 1

    Brahmā saw two separately existing sets of calves and boys. One set was sleeping, while the other played with Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    He considered many explanations, wondering which set Kṛṣṇa had created and whether He was moving them between the two places.

  3. 3

    Although Brahmā thought about the matter for a long time, he could reach no definite conclusion. He could not understand how both sets were exactly alike.

Key points from the purport
  • Which boys were real, and which were not real?
  • Brahmā could not figure out how there could be two sets of calves and cowherd boys exactly alike.
  • Although thinking and thinking, he could not understand at all.

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:

Brahmā could then understand Kṛṣṇa’s potency, and he was astonished by the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, his worshipable Lord. Kṛṣṇa, however, bestowed His causeless mercy upon Brahmā and released him from illusion.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamin this way
  2. eteṣu bhedeṣubetween these boys, who were existing separately
  3. ciramfor a long time
  4. dhyātvāafter thinking
  5. saḥhe
  6. ātma-bhūḥLord Brahmā
  7. satyāḥreal
  8. kewho
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “understand”

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 do you respond when careful thinking still leaves you unable to understand Kṛṣṇa’s actions?

Practice

Note one thing in this passage that puzzles you, and acknowledge that Brahmā also could not resolve it by prolonged thinking.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrahmā’s Reasoning Could Not Resolve His BewildermentThis 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 10.13.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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