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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.24.35

Who is speaking and story frame

कृष्णस्त्वन्यतमं रूपं गोपविश्रम्भणं गत: । शैलोऽस्मीति ब्रुवन् भूरि बलिमादद् बृहद्वपु: ॥ ३५ ॥

kṛṣṇas tv anyatamaṁ rūpaṁ

gopa-viśrambhaṇaṁ gataḥ

śailo ’smīti bruvan bhūri

balim ādad bṛhad-vapuḥ

Translation

Kṛṣṇa then assumed an unprecedented, huge form to instill faith in the cowherd men. Declaring “I am Govardhana Mountain!” He ate the abundant offerings.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Reveals His Identity with Govardhana

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa assumed an unprecedented, huge transcendental form to strengthen the cowherds’ faith. Declaring Himself Govardhana Mountain, He ate the abundant offerings.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Govardhana Hill and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical. Great devotees honor this identity by worshiping rocks from Govardhana as they worship the Deity of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The cowherd community had accepted a significant risk simply out of love for Kṛṣṇa. The Supreme Personality of Godhead now demonstrated that their decision to follow Him was correct.

Key points from the purport
  • In Chapter Twenty-four of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “When everything was complete, Kṛṣṇa assumed a great transcendental form and declared to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana that He was Himself Govardhana Hill in order to convince the devotees that Govardhana Hill and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.
  • The followers of the Krsna consciousness movement may therefore collect small rocks or pebbles from Govardhana Hill and worship them at home, because this worship is as good as Deity worship.”
  • The cowherd community did all this simply out of love for Kṛṣṇa, and now to convince them that their decision was correct, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in an unprecedented, huge transcendental form and demonstrated that He Himself was Govardhana Hill.

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:

He then assumed a huge, unprecedented transcendental form and devoured all the food and other offerings presented to Govardhana. As He did so He proclaimed to the cowherd community that although they had worshiped Indra for so long, he had never appeared in person, whereas Govardhana himself had now manifested before their eyes and eaten their offerings of foodstuffs.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣṇaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  2. tuand then
  3. anyatamamanother
  4. rūpamtranscendental form
  5. gopa-viśrambhaṇamfor generating the faith of the cowherds
  6. gataḥassumed
  7. śailaḥthe mountain
  8. asmiI am
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiping”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “love”

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 does Kṛṣṇa’s response to the cowherds’ loving trust strengthen my faith?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s declaration, “I am Govardhana Mountain!” and pause to reflect on the identity revealed by His words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Reveals His Identity with GovardhanaThis 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 10.24.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.