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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
10.15.310.15.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.15.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स तत्र तत्रारुणपल्लवश्रिया

फलप्रसूनोरुभरेण पादयो: ।

स्पृशच्छिखान् वीक्ष्य वनस्पतीन् मुदा

स्मयन्निवाहाग्रजमादिपूरुष: ॥ ४ ॥

sa tatra tatrāruṇa-pallava-śriyā

phala-prasūnoru-bhareṇa pādayoḥ

spṛśac chikhān vīkṣya vanaspatīn mudā

smayann ivāhāgra-jam ādi-pūruṣaḥ

Translation

The primeval Lord saw that the stately trees, with their beautiful reddish buds and their heavy burden of fruits and flowers, were bending down to touch His feet with the tips of their branches. Thus He smiled gently and addressed His elder brother.

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 Joyfully Recognizes the Trees’ Worship

  1. 1

    The trees carried beautiful reddish buds and a heavy burden of fruits and flowers. Their branches bent down to touch the Lord’s feet.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa knew that the trees were actually bowing down to worship Him.

  3. 3

    In a friendly, joking mood, Kṛṣṇa gently smiled and addressed Balarāma. He gave His elder brother the credit for the trees’ worship.

Key points from the purport
  • The words mudā smayann iva indicate that Lord Kṛṣṇa was in a joking mood.
  • He knew that the trees were actually bowing down to worship Him.
  • But in the following verse the Lord, speaking in a friendly, lighthearted mood, gives the credit to His brother, Balarāma.

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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Pretending to tire, Lord Baladeva laid His head upon the lap of a cowherd boy and rested as Lord Kṛṣṇa helped relieve His elder brother’s fatigue by massaging His feet. Then Kṛṣṇa also placed His head on the lap of a cowherd boy to rest, and another cowherd boy massaged His feet.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥHe
  2. tatra tatraall around
  3. aruṇareddish
  4. pallavaof their buds
  5. śrīyāwith the beauty
  6. phalaof their fruits
  7. prasūnaand flowers
  8. uru-bhareṇawith the heavy burden
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 10.15

    In this verse: “friendly”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “worship”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s gentle, playful response shape my understanding of worship?

Practice

Offer one respectful bow to Kṛṣṇa today, remembering the trees bending toward His feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Joyfully Recognizes the Trees’ WorshipThis 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 10.15.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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