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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 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.3.9-1010.3.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 10.2.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स विस्मयोत्फुल्लविलोचनो हरिं

सुतं विलोक्यानकदुन्दुभिस्तदा ।

कृष्णावतारोत्सवसम्भ्रमोऽस्पृशन्

मुदा द्विजेभ्योऽयुतमाप्लुतो गवाम् ॥ ११ ॥

sa vismayotphulla-vilocano hariṁ

sutaṁ vilokyānakadundubhis tadā

kṛṣṇāvatārotsava-sambhramo ’spṛśan

mudā dvijebhyo ’yutam āpluto gavām

Translation

When Vasudeva saw his extraordinary son, his eyes were struck with wonder. In transcendental jubilation, he mentally collected ten thousand cows and distributed them among the brāhmaṇas as a transcendental festival.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Lord Within Your Mind

  1. 1

    Vasudeva recognized the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His fully decorated, four-handed form. His worshipable Lord had appeared as his son, filling him with wonder and joy.

  2. 2

    Because imprisonment prevented an outward festival, Vasudeva celebrated within his mind. He mentally distributed ten thousand cows to the brāhmaṇas.

  3. 3

    If one cannot externally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can serve Him within the mind. Such mental service is as good as service performed with the other senses.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has analyzed the wonder of Vasudeva upon seeing his extraordinary child.
  • The third point of wonder, therefore, was that a child could take birth from the womb so nicely decorated.
  • Why then should Vasudeva not have performed such a ceremony when the Supreme Lord appeared as his son?

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 13.100

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.3.11) there is a statement that when Kṛṣṇa took His birth, Vasudeva immediately took advantage of this moment and distributed ten thousand cows to the brāhmaṇas.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Upon seeing the Lord in that Viṣṇu form, Vasudeva was struck with wonder, and in transcendental happiness he and Devakī mentally gave ten thousand cows in charity to the brāhmaṇas. Vasudeva then offered prayers to the Lord, addressing Him as the Supreme Person, Parabrahman, the Supersoul, who is beyond duality and who is internally and externally all-pervading.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Vasudeva, also known as Ānakadundubhi)
  2. vismaya-utphulla-vilocanaḥhis eyes being struck with wonder at the beautiful appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. harimLord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. sutamas his son
  5. vilokyaobserving
  6. ānakadundubhiḥVasudeva
  7. tadāat that time
  8. kṛṣṇa-avatāra-utsavafor a festival to be observed because of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “worshipable”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When circumstances limit my outward service, how can I still serve the Lord within my mind?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute mentally offering a joyful festival to the Lord, following Vasudeva’s example.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe the Lord Within Your MindThis 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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