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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 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya
10.16.1010.16.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.16.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गावो वृषा वत्सतर्य: क्रन्दमाना: सुदु:खिता: ।

कृष्णे न्यस्तेक्षणा भीता रुदन्त्य इव तस्थिरे ॥ ११ ॥

gāvo vṛṣā vatsataryaḥ

krandamānāḥ su-duḥkhitāḥ

kṛṣṇe nyastekṣaṇā bhītā

rudantya iva tasthire

Translation

The cows, bulls and female calves, in great distress, called out piteously to Kṛṣṇa. Fixing their eyes on Him, they stood still in fear, as if ready to cry but too shocked to shed tears.

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.

Eyes Fixed on Kṛṣṇa in Distress

  1. 1

    The cows, bulls and female calves called out piteously to Kṛṣṇa in their great distress.

  2. 2

    They kept their eyes fixed on Him while standing still in fear.

  3. 3

    They seemed ready to cry, yet were too shocked to shed tears. Their distress centered on Kṛṣṇa.

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 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The residents of Vṛndāvana thought, “Today Kṛṣṇa went to the forest without Balarāma, so we do not know what great misfortune may have befallen Him.” Thinking in this way, they traced the path of Kṛṣṇa’s footprints to the bank of the Yamunā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gāvaḥthe cows
  2. vṛṣāḥthe bulls
  3. vatsataryaḥthe female calves
  4. krandamānāḥcrying loudly
  5. su-duḥkhitāḥvery much distressed
  6. kṛṣṇeupon Lord Kṛṣṇa
  7. nyastafixed
  8. īkṣaṇāḥtheir sight
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “fear”

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 touches you about the animals keeping their eyes fixed on Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering the animals calling out to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEyes Fixed on Kṛṣṇa in DistressThis 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 10.16.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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