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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son
10.45.2710.45.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.45.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Balarāmasince 10.45.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

या: कृष्णरामजन्मर्क्षे मनोदत्ता महामति: ।

ताश्चाददादनुस्मृत्य कंसेनाधर्मतो हृता: ॥ २८ ॥

yāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāma-janmarkṣe

mano-dattā mahā-matiḥ

tāś cādadād anusmṛtya

kaṁsenādharmato hṛtāḥ

Translation

The magnanimous Vasudeva then remembered the cows he had mentally given away on the occasion of Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s birth. Kaṁsa had stolen those cows, and Vasudeva now recovered them and gave them away in charity also.

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.

Bring Generous Intentions Into Action

  1. 1

    Although imprisoned by Kaṁsa and deprived of his cows, Vasudeva was jubilant at the Lord’s birth. He mentally donated ten thousand cows to the brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    After Kaṁsa’s death, Vasudeva recovered his cows from the late King’s herd.

  3. 3

    Remembering his earlier intention, he gave ten thousand cows to worthy brāhmaṇas according to religious principles.

Key points from the purport
  • At the time of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance, Vasudeva had been imprisoned by Kaṁsa, who had stolen all his cows.
  • Still, Vasudeva had been so jubilant at the birth of the Lord that he had mentally donated ten thousand of his cows to the brāhmaṇas.
  • Now, upon Kaṁsa’s death, Vasudeva took back all his cows from the late King’s herd and gave ten thousand of them, according to religious principles, to the worthy brāhmaṇas.

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 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Next Vasudeva had his priests perform his sons’ ritual of second birth. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then went to Garga Muni to take the vow of brahmacarya, celibacy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.45
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥwhich (cows)
  2. kṛṣṇa-rāmaof Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
  3. janmaṛkṣeon the day of birth
  4. manaḥin his mind
  5. dattāḥgiven in charity
  6. mahā-matiḥthe magnanimous (Vasudeva)
  7. tāḥthem
  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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “king’s”

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

Is there a generous intention you can now put into action?

Practice

Complete one small act of charity that you have been intending to do.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBring Generous Intentions Into ActionThis 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 10.45.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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