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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 · Text 10.45.1

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

पितरावुपलब्धार्थौ विदित्वा पुरुषोत्तम: ।

मा भूदिति निजां मायां ततान जनमोहिनीम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

pitarāv upalabdhārthau

viditvā puruṣottamaḥ

mā bhūd iti nijāṁ māyāṁ

tatāna jana-mohinīm

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Understanding that His parents were becoming aware of His transcendental opulences, the Supreme Personality of Godhead thought that this should not be allowed to happen. Thus He expanded His Yoga-māyā, which bewilders His devotees.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Protects His Parents’ Intimate Love

  1. 1

    Seeing Kṛṣṇa as almighty God would have spoiled Vasudeva and Devakī’s intense love for Him as their son. Kṛṣṇa wanted to enjoy their parental love, called vātsalya-rasa.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead expanded His Yoga-māyā, His internal illusory potency. Through this potency, His parents would again love Him as their dear child.

  3. 3

    Although we normally think of God as the supreme father, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness devotees can serve Him as His parents. This relationship intensifies their love for Him.

Key points from the purport
  • If Vasudeva and Devakī would have seen Kṛṣṇa as almighty God, their intense love for Him as their son would have been spoiled.
  • As Śrīla Prabhupāda often pointed out, although we normally think of God as the supreme father, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we can enter into the Lord’s pastimes and play the part of His parents, thus intensifying our love for Him.
  • In this sense of the word (as in jananī or janakau), the term jana-mohinī indicates that the Lord was about to expand His internal illusory potency so that Vasudeva and Devakī would again love Him as their dear child.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.45.1 quotesSB 3.29.13

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura points out that the word jana may be translated here as “devotees,” as in the verse dīyamānaṁ na gṛhṇanti vinā mat-sevanaṁ janaḥ.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Noting that His parents — Vasudeva and Devakī — had realized His true position as God, Śrī Kṛṣṇa expanded His Yogamāyā to again make them think of Him as their dear child. Then, with Lord Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa approached them and said how unhappy He was that He and they had been unable to enjoy the mutual satisfaction of parents and children who live together.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.45
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. pitarauHis parents
  3. upalabdhahaving realized
  4. arthauthe idea (of His opulent position as God)
  5. viditvāknowing
  6. puruṣa-uttamaḥthe Supreme Personality
  7. mā bhūt iti“this should not be”
  8. nijāmHis personal
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 10.45

    In this verse: “father”, “child”, “parental”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

How does Kṛṣṇa’s desire for parental love deepen my understanding of devotion?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s wish to receive loving care, not only reverence.

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.

The purport quotesSB 3.29.13

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.45's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Protects His Parents’ Intimate LoveThis 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 10.45.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.