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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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed
10.23.5110.24.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.23.52

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇassince 10.23.40inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इति स्वाघमनुस्मृत्य कृष्णे ते कृतहेलना: ।

दिदृक्षवो व्रजमथ कंसाद् भीता न चाचलन् ॥ ५२ ॥

iti svāgham anusmṛtya

kṛṣṇe te kṛta-helanāḥ

didṛkṣavo vrajam atha

kaṁsād bhītā na cācalan

Translation

Thus reflecting on the sin they had committed by neglecting Lord Kṛṣṇa, they became very eager to see Him. But being afraid of King Kaṁsa, they did not dare go to Vraja.

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.

Fear Can Hold Back Surrender

  1. 1

    Realizing their offense and appreciating Kṛṣṇa’s almighty position, the brāhmaṇas wanted to go to Vraja and surrender at His lotus feet.

  2. 2

    They feared that Kaṁsa would kill them if his spies reported their visit. Overcome by that fear, they did not go to see the Lord.

  3. 3

    Their wives, absorbed in ecstatic Kṛṣṇa consciousness, had gone to Him despite the danger. The brāhmaṇas had not reached that advanced platform and could not see Him face to face.

Key points from the purport
  • Realizing their offense against Lord Kṛṣṇa, and finally appreciating His almighty position, the brāhmaṇas naturally wanted to rush to Vraja and surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • The brāhmaṇas’ wives were absorbed in ecstatic Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thus went to Kṛṣṇa anyway, just as the gopīs, simply to dance with the Lord, traveled in the dead of night through a forest inhabited by wild animals.
  • But the brāhmaṇas were not on such an advanced platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thus, overcome by fear of Kaṁsa, could not see the Lord face to face.

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

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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Having spoken thus, all the brāhmaṇas offered their obeisances to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, hoping to counteract their offense. Nonetheless, out of fear of King Kaṁsa they did not go to see the Lord in person.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. sva-aghamtheir own offense
  3. anusmṛtyathinking back upon
  4. kṛṣṇeagainst Lord Kṛṣṇa
  5. tethey
  6. kṛta-helanāḥhaving shown contempt
  7. didṛkṣavaḥwishing to see
  8. vrajamto the village of Nanda Mahārāja
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “afraid”, “feared”, “danger”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “offense”

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 fear holds me back from taking a small step in devotional service?

Practice

Identify one fear that delays your devotional service, then take one small, safe step toward that service today.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.23's connections

Live this todayFear Can Hold Back SurrenderThis 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 10.23.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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