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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 17: The History of Kāliya
10.17.2110.17.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.17.22

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.17.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत उत्थाय सम्भ्रान्ता दह्यमाना व्रजौकस: ।

कृष्णं ययुस्ते शरणं मायामनुजमीश्वरम् ॥ २२ ॥

tata utthāya sambhrāntā

dahyamānā vrajaukasaḥ

kṛṣṇaṁ yayus te śaraṇaṁ

māyā-manujam īśvaram

Translation

Then the residents of Vṛndāvana woke up, extremely disturbed by the great fire threatening to burn them. Thus they took shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, who by His spiritual potency appeared like an ordinary human being.

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.

Take Shelter of the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Awakened and deeply disturbed by the threatening fire, the residents of Vṛndāvana took shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared like an ordinary human being by His spiritual potency.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s eternal potency is innate in His original form. His eternal spiritual body contains infinite potency, which effortlessly directs all existence according to His all-knowing desire.

  3. 3

    The residents remembered Garga Muni’s assurance that by Kṛṣṇa’s power they would easily cross all obstacles. With full faith, they sought His shelter, thinking this blessed boy would be empowered by God to save them.

Key points from the purport
  • The śruti, or Vedic mantras, state, svarūpa-bhūtayā nitya-śaktyā māyākhyayā: “The Lord’s eternal potency named māyā is innate in His original form.”
  • Thus within the eternal spiritual body of the Supreme Lord there is infinite potency, which effortlessly manipulates all existence according to the omniscient desire of the Absolute Truth.
  • The residents of Vṛndāvana took shelter of Kṛṣṇa, thinking, “This blessed boy will certainly be empowered by God to save us.”

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.17.22 quotesSB 10.8.16

“By His power you will easily be able to cross over all obstacles.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 17: The History of Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Lord Balarāma and all the residents of Vṛndāvana saw Śrī Kṛṣṇa rise up out of the lake, beautifully decorated with many different gems and ornaments, they embraced Him in great pleasure. The spiritual masters, priests and learned brāhmaṇas then told Nanda Mahārāja, the king of the cowherds, that although his son had been caught in the grips of Kāliya, it was by the king’s good fortune that He was now free again.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthen
  2. utthāyawaking up
  3. sambhrāntāḥagitated
  4. dahyamānāḥabout to be burned
  5. vraja-okasaḥthe people of Vraja
  6. kṛṣṇamto Kṛṣṇa
  7. yayuḥwent
  8. tethey
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.17

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.17

    In this verse: “blessed”

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 can remembering Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual potency strengthen your wish to take shelter of Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, asking for shelter and the opportunity to serve Him with faith.

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.

The purport quotesSB 10.8.16

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.17's connections

Live this todayTake Shelter of the Supreme LordThis 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 10.17.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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