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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 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā
10.6.15-1710.6.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

बालं च तस्या उरसि क्रीडन्तमकुतोभयम् ।

गोप्यस्तूर्णं समभ्येत्य जगृहुर्जातसम्भ्रमा: ॥ १८ ॥

bālaṁ ca tasyā urasi

krīḍantam akutobhayam

gopyas tūrṇaṁ samabhyetya

jagṛhur jāta-sambhramāḥ

Translation

Without fear, the child Kṛṣṇa was playing on the upper portion of Pūtanā Rākṣasī’s breast, and when the gopīs saw the child’s wonderful activities, they immediately came forward with great jubilation and picked Him up.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is Always Fully Powerful

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, equally powerful in every transcendental form. Whether a child or a grown-up young man, He is the same person.

  2. 2

    He does not need meditation or any external endeavor to become powerful. His potencies are always full, and He can display them under any circumstances.

  3. 3

    Although Pūtanā expanded her body, Kṛṣṇa remained a small child and played fearlessly on her breast. The joyful gopīs immediately approached and picked Him up.

Key points from the purport
  • Here is the Supreme Personality of Godhead — Kṛṣṇa.
  • Kṛṣṇa is the real Personality of Godhead because whether as a child or as a grown-up young man, He is the same person.
  • Therefore when the greatly powerful Pūtanā expanded her body, Kṛṣṇa remained the same small child and fearlessly played on the upper portion of her breast.

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 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Kṛṣṇa was playing, the gopīs were pacified and took the child away to their own laps. After this incident, the gopīs took precautions because of the attack of the Rākṣasī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bālam cathe child also
  2. tasyāḥof that (Rākṣasī Pūtanā)
  3. urasion the upper portion of the breast
  4. krīḍantamengaged in playing
  5. akutobhayamwithout fear
  6. gopyaḥall the cowherd women
  7. tūrṇamimmediately
  8. samabhyetyacoming near
  9. jagṛhuḥpicked up
  10. jāta-sambhramāḥwith the same affection and respect they always maintained
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “fear”, “fearlessly”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “child”

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 does Kṛṣṇa’s fearless play deepen your understanding of His fully powerful nature?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering the child Kṛṣṇa playing fearlessly, reflecting that His potencies are always full.

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 10.6's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Always Fully PowerfulThis 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 10.6.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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