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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 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.3.2910.3.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Devakīsince 10.3.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

उपसंहर विश्वात्मन्नदो रूपमलौकिकम् ।

शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मश्रिया जुष्टं चतुर्भुजम् ॥ ३० ॥

upasaṁhara viśvātmann

ado rūpam alaukikam

śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma-

śriyā juṣṭaṁ catur-bhujam

Translation

O my Lord, You are the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Your transcendental four-armed form, holding conchshell, disc, club and lotus, is unnatural for this world. Please withdraw this form [and become just like a natural human child so that I may try to hide You somewhere].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devakī Wants to Hide the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord’s transcendental four-armed form holds a conchshell, disc, club and lotus. This extraordinary form does not belong to the ordinary conditions of this world.

  2. 2

    Devakī wanted to hide the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than hand Him over to Kaṁsa as she had her previous children.

  3. 3

    Vasudeva also wanted to hide this child, despite his promise to hand over every child. Because the four-armed form would be impossible to hide, Devakī asked the Lord to become like a natural human child.

Key points from the purport
  • Devakī was thinking of hiding the Supreme Personality of Godhead and not handing Him over to Kaṁsa as she had all her previous children.
  • Although Vasudeva had promised to hand over every child to Kaṁsa, this time he wanted to break his promise and hide the child somewhere.
  • But because of the Lord’s appearance in this surprising four-armed form, He would be impossible to hide.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

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:

Fearing Kaṁsa and desiring that the Lord not be understood by atheistic and materialistic nondevotees, she prayed that the Lord withdraw His transcendental four-armed form and appear like an ordinary child with two hands. The Lord reminded Vasudeva and Devakī of two other incarnations in which He had appeared as their son.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. upasaṁharawithdraw
  2. viśvātmanO all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. adaḥthat
  4. rūpamform
  5. alaukikamwhich is unnatural in this world
  6. śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padmaof the conchshell, disc, club and lotus
  7. śriyāwith these opulences
  8. juṣṭamdecorated
  9. catuḥ-bhujamfour hands
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 10.3

    In this verse: “child”, “children”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Devakī’s wish to hide the Lord show about her desire to care for Him?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on Devakī’s wish to care for the Lord as her child.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevakī Wants to Hide the Supreme LordThis 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 10.3.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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