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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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
10.15.4710.15.49-50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.48

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd boyssince 10.15.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथ गावश्च गोपाश्च निदाघातपपीडिता: ।

दुष्टं जलं पपुस्तस्यास्तृष्णार्ता विषदूषितम् ॥ ४८ ॥

atha gāvaś ca gopāś ca

nidāghātapa-pīḍitāḥ

duṣṭaṁ jalaṁ papus tasyās

tṛṣṇārtā viṣa-dūṣitam

Translation

At that time the cows and cowherd boys were feeling acute distress from the glaring summer sun. Afflicted by thirst, they drank the water of the Yamunā River. But it had been contaminated with poison.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Thirst Leads to Poisoned Water

  1. 1

    The glaring summer sun caused acute distress to the cows and cowherd boys.

  2. 2

    Afflicted by thirst, they drank water from the Yamunā River.

  3. 3

    The water they drank had been contaminated with poison.

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:

The cows and cowherd boys became very thirsty and drank some water from the Kālindī. But it had been contaminated with poison, and they all fell unconscious on the riverbank.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathen
  2. gāvaḥthe cows
  3. caand
  4. gopāḥthe cowherd boys
  5. caand
  6. nidāghaof the summer
  7. ātapaby the glaring sun
  8. pīḍitāḥdistressed
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: “cowherd boys”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “contaminated”

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

What does the description of heat and thirst help you understand about the cows and boys?

Practice

Reread the verse and briefly reflect on the distress of the thirsty cows and cowherd boys.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThirst Leads to Poisoned WaterThis 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.

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