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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.6.3010.6.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तावन्नन्दादयो गोपा मथुराया व्रजं गता: ।

विलोक्य पूतनादेहं बभूवुरतिविस्मिता: ॥ ३१ ॥

tāvan nandādayo gopā

mathurāyā vrajaṁ gatāḥ

vilokya pūtanā-dehaṁ

babhūvur ativismitāḥ

Translation

Meanwhile, all the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, returned from Mathurā, and when they saw on the way the gigantic body of Pūtanā lying dead, they were struck with great wonder.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Wonder Before What We Cannot Explain

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men returned from Mathurā and saw Pūtanā’s gigantic body lying dead.

  2. 2

    They had never seen such a gigantic body in Vṛndāvana. They wondered whether it had fallen from the sky or whether they had somehow reached another place.

  3. 3

    They could not actually guess what had happened. Their uncertainty left them struck with great wonder.

Key points from the purport
  • Nanda Mahārāja’s wonder may be understood in various ways.
  • First of all, the cowherd men had never before seen such a gigantic body in Vṛndāvana, and therefore they were struck with wonder.
  • They could not actually guess what had happened, and therefore they were struck with wonder.

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:

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. Everyone was astonished that Vasudeva had foretold this mishap, and they praised Vasudeva for his power of foresight.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāvatin the meantime
  2. nanda-ādayaḥheaded by Nanda Mahārāja
  3. gopāḥall the cowherd men
  4. mathurāyāḥfrom Mathurā
  5. vrajamto Vṛndāvana
  6. gatāḥcame back
  7. vilokyawhen they saw
  8. pūtanā-dehamthe gigantic body of Pūtanā lying dead
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 10.6

    In this verse: “nanda”

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

Can you acknowledge that you do not understand something without rushing to explain it?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly and pause to consider the cowherd men’s astonishment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWonder Before What We Cannot ExplainThis 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 10.6.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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