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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 27: Lord Indra and Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers
10.27.2110.27.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.27.22-23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.27.22-23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं कृष्णमुपामन्‍त्र्य सुरभि: पयसात्मन: । जलैराकाशगङ्गाया ऐरावतकरोद्‌धृतै: ॥ २२ ॥ इन्द्र: सुरर्षिभि: साकं चोदितो देवमातृभि: । अभ्यसिञ्चत दाशार्हं गोविन्द इति चाभ्यधात् ॥ २३ ॥

śṛī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ kṛṣṇam upāmantrya

surabhiḥ payasātmanaḥ

jalair ākāśa-gaṅgāyā

airāvata-karoddhṛtaiḥ

indraḥ surarṣibhiḥ sākaṁ

codito deva-mātṛbhiḥ

abhyasiñcata dāśārhaṁ

govinda iti cābhyadhāt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus appealed to Lord Kṛṣṇa, mother Surabhi performed His bathing ceremony with her own milk, and Indra, ordered by Aditi and other mothers of the demigods, anointed the Lord with heavenly Gaṅgā water from the trunk of Indra’s elephant carrier, Airāvata. Thus, in the company of the demigods and great sages, Indra coronated Lord Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Daśārha, and gave Him the name Govinda.

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.

Accept Encouragement to Worship Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Surabhi bathed Lord Kṛṣṇa with her own milk. Indra bathed Him with heavenly Gaṅgā water carried in Airāvata’s trunk.

  2. 2

    Embarrassed by his attack on Vṛndāvana, Indra was reluctant to worship the Lord. Aditi and the other heavenly mothers encouraged him to proceed.

  3. 3

    In the company of demigods and great sages, Indra coronated Kṛṣṇa and named Him Govinda. He discovered that this beautiful cowherd boy is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the ācāryas, because Indra was embarrassed by his blunder of attacking Vṛndāvana, he was reluctant to worship the Lord.
  • Therefore the heavenly mothers, such as Aditi, encouraged him to go ahead and do so.
  • Feeling authorized by the encouragement of demigods less offensive than he, Indra then bathed the Lord.

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 27: Lord Indra and Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Indra, along with the cow Surabhi, then performed a bathing ceremony for Kṛṣṇa, using the water of the heavenly Ganges and the milk of mother Surabhi. Indra and the cow took this opportunity to bestow upon the Lord the name Govinda, and the demigods showered flowers and recited various prayers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamthus
  3. kṛṣṇamLord Kṛṣṇa
  4. upāmantryarequesting
  5. surabhiḥmother Surabhi
  6. payasāwith milk
  7. ātmanaḥher own
  8. jalaiḥwith the water
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 10.27

    In this verse: “mother”, “mothers”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “worship”

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

Does embarrassment over a mistake ever make me reluctant to worship Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

If a past mistake makes you hesitant, offer a short prayer to Kṛṣṇa today rather than postponing worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.27's connections

Live this todayAccept Encouragement to Worship 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 10.27.22-23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.