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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 5: The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva
10.5.2510.5.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.5.26

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

कच्चित् पशव्यं निरुजं भूर्यम्बुतृणवीरुधम् ।

बृहद्वनं तदधुना यत्रास्से त्वं सुहृद्‌वृत: ॥ २६ ॥

kaccit paśavyaṁ nirujaṁ

bhūry-ambu-tṛṇa-vīrudham

bṛhad vanaṁ tad adhunā

yatrāsse tvaṁ suhṛd-vṛtaḥ

Translation

My dear friend Nanda Mahārāja, in the place where you are living with your friends, is the forest favorable for the animals, the cows? I hope there is no disease or inconvenience. The place must be full of water, grass and other plants.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Happiness Requires Care for Cows

  1. 1

    For human happiness, one must care for animals, especially cows. Vasudeva therefore asked whether the animals had proper arrangements where Nanda Mahārāja lived.

  2. 2

    Cow protection requires adequate pasturing grounds, grass and water, without disease or inconvenience. Happy animals provide milk from which people derive many nourishing products.

  3. 3

    Raising cattle for slaughter is a great sin that ruins the opportunity for a truly human life. Human society cannot become truly happy while neglecting Kṛṣṇa’s instructions.

Key points from the purport
  • For human happiness, one must care for the animals, especially the cows.
  • Vasudeva therefore inquired whether there was a good arrangement for the animals where Nanda Mahārāja lived.
  • For the proper pursuit of human happiness, there must be arrangements for the protection of cows.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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 10.5.26 quotesBG 18.44

As enjoined in Bhagavad-gītā (18.44), kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma-svabhāvajam.

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

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:

Nanda Mahārāja consoled Vasudeva by saying that everything happens according to destiny and that one who knows this is not aggrieved. Expecting many disturbances in Gokula, Vasudeva then advised Nanda Mahārāja not to wait in Mathurā, but to return to Vṛndāvana as soon as possible.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaccitwhether
  2. paśavyamprotection of the cows
  3. nirujamwithout difficulties or disease
  4. bhūrisufficient
  5. ambuwater
  6. tṛṇagrass
  7. vīrudhamplants
  8. bṛhat vanamthe great forest
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “favorable”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • 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

Do my daily choices give importance to the protection and well-being of cows?

Practice

Find one cow-protection effort today and check how it provides grass, water and care for its cows.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHuman Happiness Requires Care for CowsThis 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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