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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.3.48-49

Who is speaking and story frame

तया हृतप्रत्ययसर्ववृत्तिषु

द्वा:स्थेषु पौरेष्वपि शायितेष्वथ ।

द्वारश्च सर्वा: पिहिता दुरत्यया

बृहत्कपाटायसकीलश‍ृङ्खलै: ॥ ४८ ॥

ता: कृष्णवाहे वसुदेव आगते

स्वयं व्यवर्यन्त यथा तमो रवे: ।

ववर्ष पर्जन्य उपांशुगर्जित:

शेषोऽन्वगाद् वारि निवारयन्‌ फणै: ॥ ४९ ॥

tayā hṛta-pratyaya-sarva-vṛttiṣu

dvāḥ-stheṣu paureṣv api śāyiteṣv atha

dvāraś ca sarvāḥ pihitā duratyayā

bṛhat-kapāṭāyasa-kīla-śṛṅkhalaiḥ

tāḥ kṛṣṇa-vāhe vasudeva āgate

svayaṁ vyavaryanta yathā tamo raveḥ

vavarṣa parjanya upāṁśu-garjitaḥ

śeṣo ’nvagād vāri nivārayan phaṇaiḥ

Translation

By the influence of Yoga-māyā, all the doorkeepers fell fast asleep, their senses unable to work, and the other inhabitants of the house also fell deeply asleep. When the sun rises, the darkness automatically disappears; similarly, when Vasudeva appeared, the closed doors, which were strongly pinned with iron and locked with iron chains, opened automatically. Since the clouds in the sky were mildly thundering and showering, Ananta-nāga, an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, followed Vasudeva, beginning from the door, with hoods expanded to protect Vasudeva and the transcendental child.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serving the Lord With Loving Care

  1. 1

    By Yoga-māyā’s influence, the doorkeepers and other inhabitants fell deeply asleep. The firmly locked doors opened automatically as Vasudeva approached carrying Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Ananta-nāga followed Vasudeva with His hoods expanded to shelter him and the transcendental child from the rain.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that Śeṣa-nāga is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His business is to serve the Lord with all necessary paraphernalia.

Key points from the purport
  • Śeṣa-nāga is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead whose business is to serve the Lord with all necessary paraphernalia.
  • When Vasudeva was carrying the child, Śeṣa-nāga came to serve the Lord and protect Him from the mild showers of rain.

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:

When Vasudeva brought Kṛṣṇa to the house of Nanda Mahārāja, he saw that by Yoga-māyā’s arrangement, Yaśodā, as well as everyone else, was deeply asleep. Thus he exchanged the babies, taking Yoga-māyā from Yaśodā’s lap and placing Kṛṣṇa there instead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tayāby the influence of Yoga-māyā
  2. hṛta-pratyayadeprived of all sensation
  3. sarva-vṛttiṣuhaving all their senses
  4. dvāḥ-stheṣuall the doormen
  5. paureṣu apias well as other members of the house
  6. śāyiteṣusleeping very deeply
  7. athawhen Vasudeva tried to take his transcendental son out of the confinement
  8. dvāraḥ caas well as the doors
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “child”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “shelter”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Śeṣa-nāga’s careful service deepen my appreciation of serving the Lord?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering Śeṣa-nāga’s expanded hoods and His attentive service to the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServing the Lord With Loving CareThis 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 10.3.48-49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.