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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 26: Wonderful Kṛṣṇa
10.26.710.26.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.26.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd mensince 10.26.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वने सञ्चारयन् वत्सान् सरामो बालकैर्वृत: । हन्तुकामं बकं दोर्भ्यां मुखतोऽरिमपाटयत् ॥ ८ ॥

vane sañcārayan vatsān

sa-rāmo bālakair vṛtaḥ

hantu-kāmaṁ bakaṁ dorbhyāṁ

mukhato ’rim apāṭayat

Translation

Another time, when Kṛṣṇa was tending the calves in the forest together with Balarāma and the cowherd boys, the demon Bakāsura came with the intention of killing Kṛṣṇa. But Kṛṣṇa seized this inimical demon by the mouth and tore him apart.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Bakāsura Cannot Overcome Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa was tending calves in the forest with Balarāma and the cowherd boys.

  2. 2

    Bakāsura approached with the intention of killing Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa seized the hostile demon by the mouth and tore him apart. The demon’s intention did not succeed.

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 26: Wonderful Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Nanda replied by relating to them what Garga Muni had told him about Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Garga Muni had said that in the previous three ages Nanda’s boy had manifested Himself in white, red and yellow forms, whereas now, in the Dvāpara age, He had assumed His darkish-blue form, kṛṣṇa-rūpa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vanein the forest
  2. sañcārayangrazing
  3. vatsānthe calves
  4. sarāmaḥtogether with Lord Balarāma
  5. bālakaiḥby the cowherd boys
  6. vṛtaḥsurrounded
  7. hantu-kāmamdesiring to kill
  8. bakamthe demon Baka
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.26

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

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 does Kṛṣṇa’s defeat of Bakāsura help you appreciate about His power?

Practice

Read the verse once aloud as a small act of devotional attention to Kṛṣṇa’s activities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBakāsura Cannot Overcome KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.26.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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