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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 36: The Slaying of Ariṣṭā, the Bull Demon
10.36.1610.36.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.36.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 10.36.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यशोदाया: सुतां कन्यां देवक्या: कृष्णमेव च ।

रामं च रोहिणीपुत्रं वसुदेवेन बिभ्यता ।

न्यस्तौ स्वमित्रे नन्दे वै याभ्यां ते पुरुषा हता: ॥ १७ ॥

yaśodāyāḥ sutāṁ kanyāṁ

devakyāḥ kṛṣṇam eva ca

rāmaṁ ca rohiṇī-putraṁ

vasudevena bibhyatā

nyastau sva-mitre nande vai

yābhyāṁ te puruṣā hatāḥ

Translation

[Nārada told Kaṁsa:] Yaśodā’s child was actually a daughter, and Kṛṣṇa is the son of Devakī. Also, Rāma is the son of Rohiṇī. Out of fear, Vasudeva entrusted Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to his friend Nanda Mahārāja, and it is these two boys who have killed your men.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nārada Reveals Kṛṣṇa’s Identity

  1. 1

    Nārada tells Kaṁsa that Yaśodā’s child was a daughter and that Kṛṣṇa is Devakī’s son. Rāma is the son of Rohiṇī.

  2. 2

    Out of fear, Vasudeva had entrusted Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to his friend Nanda Mahārāja. These two boys had killed Kaṁsa’s men.

  3. 3

    The prophecy about Devakī’s eighth child made this revelation crucial to Kaṁsa. Nārada’s words implied that the prophecy should be taken very seriously, but Kaṁsa would now intensify his efforts to kill the boys.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaṁsa had been led to believe that Kṛṣṇa was the son of Yaśodā and that Devakī’s eighth child had been a daughter.
  • Here Nārada informs the King that the eighth child of Devakī was the formidable Kṛṣṇa, thus implying that the prophecy should be taken very seriously.
  • Having received this information, Kaṁsa obviously will now do everything in his power to kill Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

The purport'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

Attachment → Impending loss. The approach of departure gives pastoral love a poignant edge.

Chapters 34–38 of Canto 10: Further Vraja events and Akrūra's arrival. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 36: The Slaying of Ariṣṭā, the Bull Demon

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, while being honored by the demigods and cowherd boys, returned to the village. A short time later Nārada Muni, the great sage among the demigods, came to see King Kaṁsa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.36
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaśodāyāḥof Yaśodā
  2. sutāmthe daughter
  3. kanyāmthe female child
  4. devakyāḥof Devakī
  5. kṛṣṇamKṛṣṇa
  6. eva caalso
  7. rāmamBalarāma
  8. caand
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 10.36

    In this verse: “yaśodā’s”, “nanda”, “child”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.36

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.36

    In this verse: “fear”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Kaṁsa’s response suggest about hearing a truth while remaining hostile to it?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why learning Kṛṣṇa’s identity mattered so much to Kaṁsa.

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 10.36's connections

Live this todayNārada Reveals Kṛṣṇa’s IdentityThis 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 10.36.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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