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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.19

Who is speaking and story frame

यशोदारोहिणीभ्यां ता: समं बालस्य सर्वत: ।

रक्षां विदधिरे सम्यग्गोपुच्छभ्रमणादिभि: ॥ १९ ॥

yaśodā-rohiṇībhyāṁ tāḥ

samaṁ bālasya sarvataḥ

rakṣāṁ vidadhire samyag

go-puccha-bhramaṇādibhiḥ

Translation

Thereafter, mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī, along with the other elderly gopīs, waved about the switch of a cow to give full protection to the child Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Care and Cow Protection

  1. 1

    Mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī took the leading role in caring for Kṛṣṇa after the danger. The other elderly gopīs were almost equally concerned and followed them.

  2. 2

    They knew how to wave a cow’s switch to protect the child. The purport presents this as one of the many facilities afforded by cow protection.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa stresses the importance of protecting cows. The purport describes villagers living peacefully with grains, milk, milk products and dried cow dung used as fuel.

Key points from the purport
  • When Kṛṣṇa was saved from such a great danger, mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī were principally concerned, and the other elderly gopīs, who were almost equally concerned, followed the activities of mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī.
  • The importance of protecting cows is therefore stressed by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāvajam).
  • Simply by giving protection to the cow, the villagers live so peacefully.

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:

Mother Yaśodā gave the child her breast to suck and then laid Him in bed. Meanwhile, Nanda and his associates the cowherd men returned from Mathurā, and when they saw the great dead body of Pūtanā, they were struck with wonder.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaśodā-rohiṇībhyāmwith mother Yaśodā and mother Rohiṇī, who principally took charge of the child
  2. tāḥthe other gopīs
  3. samamequally as important as Yaśodā and Rohiṇī
  4. bālasyaof the child
  5. sarvataḥfrom all dangers
  6. rakṣāmprotection
  7. vidadhireexecuted
  8. samyakcompletely
  9. go-puccha-bhramaṇa-ādibhiḥby waving around the switch of a cow
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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 10.6

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”, “child”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “protection”, “protect”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “danger”

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 this verse help you appreciate both loving care for children and protection of cows?

Practice

List three benefits of cow protection mentioned in the purport.

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.

Live this todayLoving Care and Cow ProtectionThis 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 10.6.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.