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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 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill
10.25.710.25.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.25.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.25.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्थं मघवताज्ञप्ता मेघा निर्मुक्तबन्धना: । नन्दगोकुलमासारै: पीडयामासुरोजसा ॥ ८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

itthaṁ maghavatājñaptā

meghā nirmukta-bandhanāḥ

nanda-gokulam āsāraiḥ

pīḍayām āsur ojasā

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: On Indra’s order the clouds of universal destruction, released untimely from their bonds, went to the cowherd pastures of Nanda Mahārāja. There they began to torment the inhabitants by powerfully pouring down torrents of rain upon them.

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.

Destructive Power Unleashed Untimely

  1. 1

    On Indra’s order, the clouds of universal destruction were released untimely from their bonds.

  2. 2

    They went to the cowherd pastures of Nanda Mahārāja and tormented the inhabitants with powerful torrents of rain.

  3. 3

    The Sāṁvartaka clouds could cover the entire earth with one vast ocean. They now turned that great strength upon the simple land of Vraja.

Key points from the purport
  • The Sāṁvartaka clouds could cover the entire earth with a single vast ocean.
  • With great strength, these clouds began flooding the simple land of Vraja.

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:

To remove this supposed pride of the residents of Vraja, Indra sent the clouds known as Sāṁvartaka, whose function is to facilitate the destruction of the world. He sent them to harass the Vrajavāsīs with downpours of rain and hail.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itthamin this manner
  3. maghavatāby Indra
  4. ājñaptāḥordered
  5. meghāḥthe clouds
  6. nirmukta-bandhanāḥreleased from their bonds (although they were supposed to be kept in check until the time for the destruction of the world)
  7. nanda-gokulamthe cowherd pastures of Nanda Mahārāja
  8. āsāraiḥby great downpours of rain
  9. pīḍayām āsuḥthey tormented
  10. ojasāwith all their power
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 10.25

    In this verse: “nanda”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the contrast between these immense clouds and simple Vraja help me notice about the inhabitants’ suffering?

Practice

Read the verse slowly once, giving careful attention to what the inhabitants endured.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDestructive Power Unleashed UntimelyThis 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 10.25.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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