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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed

10.23.1 10.23.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.23.2

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.23.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इति विज्ञापितो गोपैर्भगवान् देवकीसुत: ।

भक्ताया विप्रभार्याया: प्रसीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti vijñāpito gopair

bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ

bhaktāyā vipra-bhāryāyāḥ

prasīdann idam abravīt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus entreated by the cowherd boys, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Devakī, replied as follows, desiring to please certain of His devotees who were brāhmaṇas’ wives.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Desires to Please His Devotees

1
The Supreme Personality of Godhead heard the cowherd boys’ appeal and replied.
2
Śukadeva Gosvāmī identifies the Lord as the son of Devakī.
3
In replying, Kṛṣṇa desired to please certain devotees who were brāhmaṇas’ wives.

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

Chapter 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This chapter describes how Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, after inducing the cowherd boys to beg for food, showed mercy to the wives of some brāhmaṇas performing a sacrifice and made the brāhmaṇas themselves feel remorse. When the cowherd boys became very hungry, they asked Śrī Kṛṣṇa about obtaining food, and He sent them to beg some from a group of brāhmaṇas who were performing a sacrifice nearby.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.23

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
itithus
vijñāpitaḥinformed
gopaiḥby the cowherd boys
bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
devakī-sutaḥthe son of Devakī
bhaktāyāḥHis devotees
vipra-bhāryāyāḥthe wives of the brāhmaṇas

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 10.23
In this verse: “cowherd boys”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.23
In this verse: “devotees”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.23
In this verse: “heard”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Kṛṣṇa’s desire to please His devotees reveal about His care?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s desire to please His devotees.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Desires to Please His DevoteesThis 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 10.23.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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