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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
10.6.3410.6.37-38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.6.35-36

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पूतना लोकबालघ्नी राक्षसी रुधिराशना ।

जिघांसयापि हरये स्तनं दत्त्वाप सद्गतिम् ॥ ३५ ॥

किं पुन: श्रद्धया भक्त्या कृष्णाय परमात्मने ।

यच्छन् प्रियतमं किं नु रक्तास्तन्मातरो यथा ॥ ३६ ॥

pūtanā loka-bāla-ghnī

rākṣasī rudhirāśanā

jighāṁsayāpi haraye

stanaṁ dattvāpa sad-gatim

kiṁ punaḥ śraddhayā bhaktyā

kṛṣṇāya paramātmane

yacchan priyatamaṁ kiṁ nu

raktās tan-mātaro yathā

Translation

Pūtanā was always hankering for the blood of human children, and with that desire she came to kill Kṛṣṇa; but because she offered her breast to the Lord, she attained the greatest achievement. What then is to be said of those who had natural devotion and affection for Kṛṣṇa as mothers and who offered Him their breasts to suck or offered something very dear, as a mother offers something to a child?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Everything for Kṛṣṇa’s Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Pūtanā had no affection for Kṛṣṇa and wanted to kill Him. Yet by offering her breast, she attained the highest achievement in life.

  2. 2

    Mother Yaśodā and the other gopīs offered everything for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction with sincere affection and love. Their offerings had no envy.

  3. 3

    The gopīs automatically achieved the highest perfection. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore recommended their affection for Kṛṣṇa as the highest perfection in life.

Key points from the purport
  • Pūtanā had no affection for Kṛṣṇa; rather, she was envious and wanted to kill Him.
  • If Pūtanā could attain such an exalted position in spiritual life by neglectfully, enviously making an offering to Kṛṣṇa, what is to be said of mother Yaśodā and the other gopīs, who served Kṛṣṇa with such great affection and love, offering everything for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction?
  • Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended the affection of the gopīs, either in maternal affection or in conjugal love, as the highest perfection in life (ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā).

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:

Ultimately, although Pūtanā had desired to kill Kṛṣṇa, she attained the Lord’s abode. From this incident we gain the instruction that if one is attached to Kṛṣṇa somehow or other, even as an enemy, one ultimately attains success.
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. pūtanāPūtanā, the professional Rākṣasī
  2. loka-bāla-ghnīwho used to kill human children
  3. rākṣasīthe she-demon
  4. rudhira-aśanāsimply hankering for blood
  5. jighāṁsayāwith the desire to kill Kṛṣṇa (being envious of Kṛṣṇa and having been instructed by Kaṁsa)
  6. apistill
  7. harayeunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. stanamher breast
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mothers”, “children”, “yaśodā”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “love”

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

What could you offer Kṛṣṇa with greater sincerity and affection?

Practice

Choose one small act of service today and do it carefully for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction.

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 todayOffer Everything for Kṛṣṇa’s SatisfactionThis 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 10.6.35-36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.