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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
10.5.1910.5.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.5.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.5.19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वसुदेव उपश्रुत्य भ्रातरं नन्दमागतम् ।

ज्ञात्वा दत्तकरं राज्ञे ययौ तदवमोचनम् ॥ २० ॥

vasudeva upaśrutya

bhrātaraṁ nandam āgatam

jñātvā datta-karaṁ rājñe

yayau tad-avamocanam

Translation

When Vasudeva heard that Nanda Mahārāja, his very dear friend and brother, had come to Mathurā and already paid the taxes to Kaṁsa, he went to Nanda Mahārāja’s residence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brotherly Affection and Kṛṣṇa’s Cowherd Family

  1. 1

    When Vasudeva learned that Nanda Mahārāja had arrived in Mathurā and paid his taxes, he went to visit him. They were so closely connected that they lived like brothers.

  2. 2

    Śrīpāda Madhvācārya’s notes explain that they were stepbrothers: Nanda Mahārāja was born from Śūrasena’s marriage to a vaiśya girl. Nanda Mahārāja also married a vaiśya girl, Yaśodā, so his family is known as a vaiśya family.

  3. 3

    Identifying Himself as their son, Kṛṣṇa took charge of vaiśya activities. Balarāma carries a plow and represents agriculture, while Kṛṣṇa tends cows and carries a flute.

Key points from the purport
  • Vasudeva and Nanda Mahārāja were so intimately connected that they lived like brothers.
  • Furthermore, it is learned from the notes of Śrīpāda Madhvācārya that Vasudeva and Nanda Mahārāja were stepbrothers.
  • Vasudeva’s father, Śūrasena, married a vaiśya girl, and from her Nanda Mahārāja was born.

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:

After the festival, Nanda Mahārāja put the cowherd men in charge of protecting Gokula, and then he went to Mathurā to pay official taxes to Kaṁsa. In Mathurā, Nanda Mahārāja met 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. vasudevaḥVasudeva
  2. upaśrutyawhen he heard
  3. bhrātaramthat his dear friend and brother
  4. nandamNanda Mahārāja
  5. āgatamhad come to Mathurā
  6. jñātvāwhen he learned
  7. datta-karamand had already paid the taxes
  8. rājñeunto the King
  9. yayauhe went
  10. tat-avamocanamto the residential quarters of Nanda Mahārāja
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”, “yaśodā”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “friend”

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 do you appreciate about Kṛṣṇa identifying Himself with a family engaged in agriculture and cow protection?

Practice

Take a minute today to remember Balarāma with His plow and Kṛṣṇa tending cows with His flute.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrotherly Affection and Kṛṣṇa’s Cowherd FamilyThis 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.

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