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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

10.3.51 10.3.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.52

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.3.46inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवक्या: शयने न्यस्य वसुदेवोऽथ दारिकाम् ।

प्रतिमुच्य पदोर्लोहमास्ते पूर्ववदावृत: ॥ ५२ ॥

devakyāḥ śayane nyasya

vasudevo ’tha dārikām

pratimucya pador loham

āste pūrvavad āvṛtaḥ

Translation

Vasudeva placed the female child on the bed of Devakī, bound his legs with the iron shackles, and thus remained there as before.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vasudeva Returns to His Shackles

1
Vasudeva placed the female child on Devakī’s bed.
2
He then bound his own legs again with the iron shackles.
3
Having done this, Vasudeva remained there as before. The translation closes with him once again in confinement.

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:

He placed Yoga-māyā on Devakī’s bed and prepared to be a prisoner as before. In Gokula, Yaśodā could not understand whether she had given birth to a male or a female child.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.3

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

devakyāḥof Devakī
śayaneon the bed
nyasyaplacing
vasudevaḥVasudeva
athathus
dārikāmthe female child
pratimucyabinding himself again
padoḥ lohamiron shackles on the two legs

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”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to me about Vasudeva binding his own legs again?

Practice

Read this short translation slowly and pause to reflect on Vasudeva’s return to confinement.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVasudeva Returns to His ShacklesThis 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 10.3.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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