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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

10.3.43 10.3.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.44

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

एतद् वां दर्शितं रूपं प्राग्जन्मस्मरणाय मे ।

नान्यथा मद्भ‍वं ज्ञानं मर्त्यलिङ्गेन जायते ॥ ४४ ॥

etad vāṁ darśitaṁ rūpaṁ

prāg-janma-smaraṇāya me

nānyathā mad-bhavaṁ jñānaṁ

martya-liṅgena jāyate

Translation

I have shown you this form of Viṣṇu just to remind you of My previous births. Otherwise, if I appeared like an ordinary human child, you would not believe that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, has indeed appeared.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Supreme Lord Through Loving Service

1
The Lord showed His form of Viṣṇu to remind His parents of His previous appearances. Devakī already accepted Him, but worried that her neighbors would not believe He was her son.
2
The Lord deals with His devotees like a human being, but He is not an ordinary human being. Devotees recognize the Supreme Personality of Godhead under all circumstances.
3
The Lord asks us to think of Him, become His devotees, worship Him and offer obeisances. Attachment to Him through loving service assures our return to the transcendental world.

Key points from the purport

Devakī did not need to be reminded that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, had appeared as her son; she already accepted this.
Therefore she wanted Lord Viṣṇu to transform Himself into a human child.
On the other hand, the Supreme Lord was also anxious, thinking that if He appeared as an ordinary child, she would not believe that Lord Viṣṇu had appeared.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.3

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

etatthis form of Viṣṇu
vāmunto both of you
darśitamhas been shown
rūpamMy form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead with four hands
prāk-janmaof My previous appearances
smaraṇāyajust to remind you
meMy
nanot

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: “devotees”, “worship”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.3
In this verse: “child”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.3
In this verse: “attachment”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I remember the Lord’s supreme position while developing personal affection for Him?

Practice

Offer obeisances to Kṛṣṇa today and spend a quiet moment thinking of Him with devotion.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Supreme Lord Through Loving ServiceThis 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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