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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 55: The History of Pradyumna
10.55.510.55.7-8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.55.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.55.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द‍ृष्ट्वा तदुदरे बालं मायावत्यै न्यवेदयन् ।

नारदोऽकथयत् सर्वं तस्या: शङ्कितचेतस: ।

बालस्य तत्त्वमुत्पत्तिं मत्स्योदरनिवेशनम् ॥ ६ ॥

dṛṣṭvā tad-udare bālam

māyāvatyai nyavedayan

nārado ’kathayat sarvaṁ

tasyāḥ śaṅkita-cetasaḥ

bālasya tattvam utpattiṁ

matsyodara-niveśanam

Translation

Seeing a male child in the belly of the fish, the cooks gave the infant to Māyāvatī, who was astonished. Nārada Muni then appeared and explained to her everything about the child’s birth and His entering the fish’s abdomen.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Nārada Explains the Astonishing Discovery

  1. 1

    The cooks found a male child in the belly of the fish and gave Him to Māyāvatī.

  2. 2

    Māyāvatī was astonished by the discovery.

  3. 3

    Nārada Muni appeared and explained everything about the child’s birth and His entering the fish’s abdomen.

How it feels

Yearning and danger → Marriage and reciprocity. A wider range of divine relationships appears.

Chapters 50–59 of Canto 10: Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī and royal rescues. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 55: The History of Pradyumna

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The cooks gave the infant to the maidservant Māyāvatī, who was astonished to see Him. Just then Nārada Muni appeared and told her who the infant was.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.55
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  2. tatin its
  3. udarebelly
  4. bālama child
  5. māyāvatyaito Māyāvatī
  6. nyavedayanthey gave
  7. nāradaḥNārada Muni
  8. akathayatrelated
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 10.55

    In this verse: “child”, “infant”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.55

    In this verse: “māyāvatī”

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 did Nārada’s explanation address Māyāvatī’s astonishment?

Practice

Note the two matters Nārada explained: the child’s birth and His entrance into the fish.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNārada Explains the Astonishing DiscoveryThis 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 10.55.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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