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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa
10.44.1210.44.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.44.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The womensince 10.44.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पुण्या बत व्रजभुवो यदयं नृलिङ्ग-गूढ: पुराणपुरुषो वनचित्रमाल्य: । गा: पालयन् सहबल: क्‍वणयंश्च वेणुंविक्रीडयाञ्चति गिरित्ररमार्चिताङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रि: ॥ १३ ॥

puṇyā bata vraja-bhuvo yad ayaṁ nṛ-liṅga

gūḍhaḥ purāṇa-puruṣo vana-citra-mālyaḥ

gāḥ pālayan saha-balaḥ kvaṇayaṁś ca veṇuṁ

vikrīdayāñcati giritra-ramārcitāṅghriḥ

Translation

How pious are the tracts of land in Vraja, for there the primeval Personality of Godhead, disguising Himself with human traits, wanders about, enacting His many pastimes! Adorned with wonderfully variegated forest garlands, He whose feet are worshiped by Lord Śiva and goddess Ramā vibrates His flute as He tends the cows in the company of Balarāma.

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.

Love Praises Kṛṣṇa’s Life in Vraja

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the primeval Personality of Godhead, disguising Himself with human traits. His feet are worshiped by Lord Śiva and goddess Ramā.

  2. 2

    In Vraja He wears varied forest garlands, plays His flute and tends the cows with Balarāma. The ladies contrast His enjoyment with His friends there with the wrestlers’ bullying in Mathurā.

  3. 3

    The ladies condemn Mathurā because they feel pain at what they consider an unfair match. Mathurā is also the Lord’s eternal abode, but their love takes a critical mood.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse the devoted ladies in the audience point out the difference between Mathurā and Vṛndāvana.
  • Thus the ladies are condemning the city of Mathurā because of their pain at seeing Kṛṣṇa in what they consider an unfair wrestling match.
  • Of course, Mathurā is also one of the Lord’s eternal abodes, but here the women in the assembly express their love in a critical mood.

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

Anxiety and conflict → Liberation and joy. Heroic victory is complicated by separation from Vraja.

Chapters 39–45 of Canto 10: Mathurā, Kaṁsa and reunion with parents. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Lord consoled the widows, had the funeral rites performed for Kaṁsa and his brothers and then released His mother and father from bondage. Kṛṣṇa offered obeisances at His parents’ feet, but they, now understanding Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not embrace Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.44
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. puṇyāḥpious
  2. bataindeed
  3. vraja-bhuvaḥthe various regions of the land of Vraja
  4. yatin which
  5. ayamthis
  6. nṛhuman
  7. liṅgaby characteristics
  8. gūḍhaḥdisguised
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “love”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “friends”

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 the ladies’ concern reveal about their love for Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering Kṛṣṇa tending the cows with Balarāma, while honoring Him as the Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Praises Kṛṣṇa’s Life in VrajaThis 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 10.44.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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