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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 28: Kṛṣṇa Rescues Nanda Mahārāja from the Abode of Varuṇa
10.28.110.28.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.28.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.28.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं गृहीत्वानयद् भृत्यो वरुणस्यासुरोऽन्तिकम् । अवज्ञायासुरीं वेलां प्रविष्टमुदकं निशि ॥ २ ॥

taṁ gṛhītvānayad bhṛtyo

varuṇasyāsuro ’ntikam

avajñāyāsurīṁ velāṁ

praviṣṭam udakaṁ niśi

Translation

Because Nanda Mahārāja entered the water in the dark of night, disregarding that the time was inauspicious, a demoniac servant of Varuṇa seized him and brought him to his master.

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.

Understand the Devotee’s Intention

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja entered the water before dawn because little time remained for breaking his fast on Dvādaśī. His intention was to follow the instructions of scripture.

  2. 2

    Varuṇa’s servant foolishly arrested him on technical grounds. He did not understand Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja’s position as the Lord’s pastime father, or devotional service.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to give His personal audience to Varuṇa. Through this pastime, He also intended to teach.

Key points from the purport
  • The servant of Varuṇa who arrested Nanda Mahārāja is stated here to be an asura, or demon, for obvious reasons.
  • Also, Nanda Mahārāja’s intention was to carry out the injunctions of scripture; therefore Varuṇa’s servant should not have arrested Nanda on the technical grounds that he bathed in the Yamunā at an inauspicious time.
  • This foolish servant did not understand the position of Kṛṣṇa or Nanda Mahārāja or devotional service to 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 28: Kṛṣṇa Rescues Nanda Mahārāja from the Abode of Varuṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By circumstance only a few more minutes remained, and so he decided to take his bath at the very end of the night, although astrologically that was an inauspicious time. Thus he entered the water of the Yamunā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim
  2. gṛhītvāseizing
  3. anayatbrought
  4. bhṛtyaḥa servant
  5. varuṇasyaof Varuṇa, the lord of the sea
  6. asuraḥdemon
  7. antikamto the presence (of his master)
  8. avajñāyawho had disregarded
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 10.28

    In this verse: “nanda”, “father”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.28

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.28

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Do I try to understand someone’s intention to serve the Lord before judging their actions?

Practice

Before criticizing one devotional action today, pause and consider the person’s intention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand the Devotee’s IntentionThis 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 10.28.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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