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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
10.6.37-3810.6.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.6.39-40

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पयांसि यासामपिबत् पुत्रस्‍नेहस्‍नुतान्यलम् ।

भगवान् देवकीपुत्र: कैवल्याद्यखिलप्रद: ॥ ३९ ॥

तासामविरतं कृष्णे कुर्वतीनां सुतेक्षणम् ।

न पुन: कल्पते राजन् संसारोऽज्ञानसम्भव: ॥ ४० ॥

payāṁsi yāsām apibat

putra-sneha-snutāny alam

bhagavān devakī-putraḥ

kaivalyādy-akhila-pradaḥ

tāsām avirataṁ kṛṣṇe

kurvatīnāṁ sutekṣaṇam

na punaḥ kalpate rājan

saṁsāro ’jñāna-sambhavaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the bestower of many benedictions, including liberation [kaivalya], or oneness with the Brahman effulgence. For that Personality of Godhead, the gopīs always felt maternal love, and Kṛṣṇa sucked their breasts with full satisfaction. Therefore, because of their relationship as mother and son, although the gopīs were engaged in various family activities, one should never think that they returned to this material world after leaving their bodies.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Kṛṣṇa Your Central Affection

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, bestows liberation and many other benedictions. Those connected with Him in a transcendental relationship are assured of returning home, back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    Although the gopīs were occupied with family activities, their central affection was for Kṛṣṇa. Their household attachments did not cause them to return to the material world.

  3. 3

    Material relationships are temporary, but relationships awakened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness revive spiritual life. The purport recommends giving up sinful activities and remaining in the family of Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse also guarantees that devotees who constantly think of Kṛṣṇa in a particular relationship will never return to this material world.
  • But when the same relationships awaken in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one’s spiritual life is revived, and one is guaranteed to return home, back to Godhead.
  • Even though the gopīs who were friends of Rohiṇī and mother Yaśodā and who allowed their breasts to be sucked by Kṛṣṇa were not directly Kṛṣṇa’s mothers, they all had the same chance as Rohiṇī and Yaśodā to go back to Godhead and act as Kṛṣṇa’s mothers-in-law, servants and so on.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.6.39-40 quotesBG 4.9

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti: for such devotees, going back home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

The inhabitants of Vraja cut the gigantic body of Pūtanā into pieces, but because Kṛṣṇa had sucked her breast, she had been freed from all sins, and therefore when the cowherd men burned the pieces of her body in a fire, the smoke filled the air with a very pleasing fragrance. Ultimately, although Pūtanā had desired to kill Kṛṣṇa, she attained the Lord’s abode.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. payāṁsimilk (coming from the body)
  2. yāsāmof all of whom
  3. apibatLord Kṛṣṇa drank
  4. putra-sneha-snutānithat milk coming from the bodies of the gopīs, not artificially but because of maternal affection
  5. alamsufficiently
  6. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. devakī-putraḥwho appeared as the son of Devakī
  8. kaivalya-ādilike liberation or merging into the Brahman effulgence
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “material”, “attachments”, “household”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”

  • 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

How could Kṛṣṇa become more central to your affection while you fulfill your family duties?

Practice

During one household task today, consciously remember Kṛṣṇa and your relationship of service to Him.

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 todayMake Kṛṣṇa Your Central AffectionThis 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 10.6.39-40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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