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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
10.3.4210.3.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.43

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 10.3.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तृतीयेऽस्मिन् भवेऽहं वै तेनैव वपुषाथ वाम् ।

जातो भूयस्तयोरेव सत्यं मे व्याहृतं सति ॥ ४३ ॥

tṛtīye ’smin bhave ’haṁ vai

tenaiva vapuṣātha vām

jāto bhūyas tayor eva

satyaṁ me vyāhṛtaṁ sati

Translation

O supremely chaste mother, I, the same personality, have now appeared of you both as your son for the third time. Take My words as the truth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Himself Appears in Full Opulence

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead chooses the same mother and father for repeated appearances. He becomes their son so that they can reciprocate eternal love.

  2. 2

    The parents appeared as Sutapā and Pṛśni, then Kaśyapa and Aditi, and finally Vasudeva and Devakī. The Lord confirms that this is His third appearance as their son.

  3. 3

    Pṛśnigarbha and Vāmana were partial expansions, but Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Lord’s original form. In response to His parents’ intense love, Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared in His full opulence.

Key points from the purport
  • In other words, the Lord told Devakī, “This time I have appeared in My original form as Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”
  • In this verse the Lord confirms, “I am the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, but I appear in full opulence as Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”
  • When the Lord mentioned the birth of Pṛśnigarbha, He did not say tenaiva vapuṣā, but He assured Devakī that in the third birth the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa had appeared, not His partial expansion.

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:

He had appeared as Pṛśnigarbha and Vāmanadeva, and now this was the third time He was appearing as the son of Devakī to fulfill their desire. The Lord then decided to leave the residence of Vasudeva and Devakī, in the prison house of Kaṁsa, and at this very time, Yoga-māyā took birth as the daughter of Yaśodā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tṛtīyefor the third time
  2. asmin bhavein this appearance (as Kṛṣṇa)
  3. ahamI Myself
  4. vaiindeed
  5. tenawith the same personality
  6. evain this way
  7. vapuṣāby the form
  8. athaas
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: “mother”, “father”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s desire to reciprocate eternal love deepen my understanding of Him?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead who reciprocates His devotees’ love.

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 10.3's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Himself Appears in Full OpulenceThis 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 10.3.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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