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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 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill
10.25.1710.25.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.25.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.25.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्मान्मच्छरणं गोष्ठं मन्नाथं मत्परिग्रहम् । गोपाये स्वात्मयोगेन सोऽयं मे व्रत आहित: ॥ १८ ॥

tasmān mac-charaṇaṁ goṣṭhaṁ

man-nāthaṁ mat-parigraham

gopāye svātma-yogena

so ’yaṁ me vrata āhitaḥ

Translation

I must therefore protect the cowherd community by My transcendental potency, for I am their shelter, I am their master, and indeed they are My own family. After all, I have taken a vow to protect My devotees.

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’s Vow to Protect His Devotees

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa declared that the cowherd community was His own family. As their shelter and master, He would protect them by His transcendental potency.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Kṛṣṇa was both their sole shelter and one who had made His home among them.

  3. 3

    They loved Him as their child, friend, lover and life itself, and He reciprocated their feelings. Protecting these intimate devotees fulfilled His vow.

Key points from the purport
  • The word mac-charaṇam indicates not only that Lord Kṛṣṇa was the sole shelter for the vraja-jana, the people of Vṛndāvana, but also that Lord Kṛṣṇa had established His home among them.
  • The residents of Vṛndāvana adopted Kṛṣṇa as their beloved child, friend, lover and life itself, and the Lord reciprocated their feelings.
  • Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa lived among these fortunate people, moving in their houses and fields; naturally He would protect such intimate devotees from all types of danger.

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 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The cowherd community was very disturbed by this and approached Kṛṣṇa for shelter. Understanding that this trouble was the work of Indra, Kṛṣṇa decided to smash to pieces Indra’s false prestige, and thus He lifted Govardhana Hill with one hand.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. mat-śaraṇamhaving taken shelter of Me
  3. goṣṭhamthe cowherd community
  4. mat-nāthamwho have Me as their master
  5. mat-parigrahamMy own family
  6. gopāyeI shall protect
  7. sva-ātma-yogenaby My personal mystic power
  8. saḥ ayamthis
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my remembrance of Kṛṣṇa more personal and affectionate?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute expressing to Kṛṣṇa your desire to take shelter of Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Vow to Protect 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.

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