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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 24: Worshiping Govardhana Hill
10.24.110.24.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.24.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.24.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तदभिज्ञोऽपि भगवान् सर्वात्मा सर्वदर्शन: । प्रश्रयावनतोऽपृच्छद् वृद्धान् नन्दपुरोगमान् ॥ २ ॥

tad-abhijño ’pi bhagavān

sarvātmā sarva-darśanaḥ

praśrayāvanato ’pṛcchad

vṛddhān nanda-purogamān

Translation

Being the omniscient Supersoul, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa already understood the situation, yet He still humbly inquired from the elders, headed by His father, Nanda Mahārāja.

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.

The Supreme Lord Inquires Humbly

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the omniscient Supersoul. He already understood the situation.

  2. 2

    Although He knew everything, He humbly inquired from the elders, headed by His father, Nanda Mahārāja.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa was eager to lift Govardhana Hill and defeat Indra’s false pride. His inquiry was a clever beginning to that pastime.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa was eager to enact His pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill and defeating the false pride of Indra, and thus He cleverly inquired from His father about the imminent sacrifice.

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 24: Worshiping Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Śrī Kṛṣṇa saw the cowherd men busily preparing for a sacrifice to Indra, He inquired about it from their king, Nanda. Nanda explained that the rain given by Indra enables all living entities to maintain their lives, and therefore this sacrifice would be executed to satisfy him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tat-abhijñaḥbeing in full knowledge about it
  2. apialthough
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  4. sarva-ātmāthe Supersoul within everyone’s heart
  5. sarva-darśanaḥthe omniscient Personality of Godhead
  6. praśraya-avanataḥbowing down humbly
  7. apṛcchatHe inquired
  8. vṛddhānfrom the elders
  9. nanda-puraḥ-gamānheaded by Mahārāja Nanda
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “nanda”, “father”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “pride”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s humble manner help me notice pride in my own conversations?

Practice

Ask an elder one sincere question today, and listen without showing off what you already know.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Inquires HumblyThis 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 10.24.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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