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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 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana
10.19.1610.20.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.20.1

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

तयोस्तदद्भ‍ुतं कर्म दावाग्नेर्मोक्षमात्मन: ।

गोपा: स्त्रीभ्य: समाचख्यु: प्रलम्बवधमेव च ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

tayos tad adbhutaṁ karma

dāvāgner mokṣam ātmanaḥ

gopāḥ strībhyaḥ samācakhyuḥ

pralamba-vadham eva ca

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said:To the ladies of Vṛndāvana, the cowherd boys then related in full detail Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s wonderful activities of delivering them from the forest fire and killing the demon Pralamba.

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.

Sharing Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s Wonderful Activities

  1. 1

    The cowherd boys told the ladies of Vṛndāvana about Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s wonderful activities.

  2. 2

    They described their deliverance from the forest fire and the killing of the demon Pralamba.

  3. 3

    The boys related these events in full detail, sharing what had happened to them.

How it feels

Attraction and threat → Joy and trust. The pastoral world becomes the setting for protection and love.

Chapters 20–28 of Canto 10: Forest seasons, flute and Govardhana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana

Summary of this chapter:

To enhance the description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes in this chapter the beauty of Vṛndāvana during autumn and the rainy season. In the course of his presentation he gives various charming instructions in metaphorical terms.
Back to this verse in chapter 10.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tayoḥof the two of Them, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma
  3. tatthat
  4. adbhutamamazing
  5. karmaaction
  6. dāva-agneḥfrom the forest fire
  7. mokṣamthe deliverance
  8. ātmanaḥof themselves
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

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

Which part of this account would you most like to remember and share?

Practice

Retell the two wonderful activities mentioned in this verse to someone, keeping to the translation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySharing Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s Wonderful ActivitiesThis 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 10.20.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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