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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 5: The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva
10.4.4610.5.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.5.1-2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.5.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

नन्दस्त्वात्मज उत्पन्ने जाताह्लादो महामना: ।

आहूय विप्रान् वेदज्ञान्‍स्‍नात: शुचिरलङ्कृत: ॥ १ ॥

वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं जातकर्मात्मजस्य वै ।

कारयामास विधिवत् पितृदेवार्चनं तथा ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

nandas tv ātmaja utpanne

jātāhlādo mahā-manāḥ

āhūya viprān veda-jñān

snātaḥ śucir alaṅkṛtaḥ

vācayitvā svastyayanaṁ

jāta-karmātmajasya vai

kārayām āsa vidhivat

pitṛ-devārcanaṁ tathā

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Nanda Mahārāja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brāhmaṇas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brāhmaṇas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Joyfully Celebrating Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja was naturally magnanimous and became overwhelmed with joy when Kṛṣṇa appeared as his son. He invited qualified brāhmaṇas and arranged the birth ceremony according to the rules.

  2. 2

    Because of fear of Kaṁsa, Devakī and Vasudeva could not celebrate Kṛṣṇa’s birth. Nanda Mahārāja took full advantage of this opportunity.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so His appearance cannot be judged by material understanding alone. Nanda Mahārāja’s proper and glorious celebration is known as Nandotsava.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Devakī, Devakī and Vasudeva did not enjoy the jāta-karma, the festival of the birth ceremony.
  • When Nanda Mahārāja met Vasudeva, Vasudeva could not disclose, “Your son Kṛṣṇa is actually my son.
  • Being overwhelmed with jubilation over the birth of his son, Nanda Mahārāja did not see whether the cord was cut or not.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 5: The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As described in this chapter, Nanda Mahārāja very gorgeously performed the birth ceremony for his newborn child. Then he went to Kaṁsa to pay taxes due and met his intimate friend Vasudeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. nandaḥMahārāja Nanda
  3. tuindeed
  4. ātmajehis son
  5. utpannehaving been born
  6. jātaoverwhelmed
  7. āhlādaḥin great jubilation
  8. mahā-manāḥwho was great minded
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 10.5

    In this verse: “nanda”, “child”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “recite”

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 can Nanda Mahārāja’s joy inspire my own celebration of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s appearance and Nanda Mahārāja’s joy.

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 10.5's connections

Live this todayJoyfully Celebrating Kṛṣṇa’s AppearanceThis 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 10.5.1-2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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