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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 14: Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.14.4110.14.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.14.42

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.14.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ततोऽनुज्ञाप्य भगवान् स्वभुवं प्रागवस्थितान् ।

वत्सान् पुलिनमानिन्ये यथापूर्वसखं स्वकम् ॥ ४२ ॥

tato ’nujñāpya bhagavān

sva-bhuvaṁ prāg avasthitān

vatsān pulinam āninye

yathā-pūrva-sakhaṁ svakam

Translation

After granting His son Brahmā permission to leave, the Supreme Personality of Godhead took the calves, who were still where they had been a year earlier, and brought them to the riverbank, where He had been taking His meal and where His cowherd boyfriends remained just as before.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Forgives and Resumes His Pastimes

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa forgives Brahmā’s offense and treats him affectionately as His own son. He then returns to the original calves and cowherd boys.

  2. 2

    By the Lord’s omnipotent illusory energy, the boys and calves had remained unnoticed for a full year. They neither noticed the passing time nor felt hunger, cold or thirst.

  3. 3

    Nothing is invisible to the Supreme Lord; His search was part of the pastime that bewildered Brahmā. After accepting Brahmā’s prayers, Kṛṣṇa continues His role as a young cowherd boy, eager to rejoin His friends.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared to be searching for the calves and boys only to enact the dramatic pastime of bewildering Lord Brahmā.
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, since Lord Kṛṣṇa was playing exactly like an innocent young cowherd boy in Vṛndāvana, after four-headed Brahmā offered his prayers the Lord maintained His role as a young cowherd boy and thus remained silent before Brahmā.
  • Lord Brahmā had considered Lord Kṛṣṇa an ordinary cowherd boy and had treated Him as such.

The purport'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 14: Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Finally, Brahmā offered his whole self at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord and, praising Him again and again, circumambulated Him and took his leave. Lord Kṛṣṇa then gathered the animals Brahmā stole and led them to the place on the Yamunā’s bank where the cowherd boys had been taking lunch.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthen
  2. anujñāpyagiving permission
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  4. sva-bhuvamto His own son (Brahmā)
  5. prākfrom before
  6. avasthitānsituated
  7. vatsānthe calves
  8. pulinamto the shore of the river
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “friends”, “cowherd boys”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “offense”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s affectionate forgiveness of Brahmā encourage me to approach Him?

Practice

Offer a brief, honest prayer asking Kṛṣṇa’s forgiveness for one way you have failed to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.14's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Forgives and Resumes His PastimesThis 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 10.14.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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