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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā
10.6.39-4010.6.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.41

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

कटधूमस्य सौरभ्यमवघ्राय व्रजौकस: ।

किमिदं कुत एवेति वदन्तो व्रजमाययु: ॥ ४१ ॥

kaṭa-dhūmasya saurabhyam

avaghrāya vrajaukasaḥ

kim idaṁ kuta eveti

vadanto vrajam āyayuḥ

Translation

Upon smelling the fragrance of the smoke emanating from Pūtanā’s burning body, many inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi in distant places were astonished. “Where is this fragrance coming from?” they asked. Thus they went to the spot where Pūtanā’s body was being burnt.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

An Astonishing Fragrance

  1. 1

    Smoke from a burning fire does not always have a pleasant aroma. Yet the smoke from Pūtanā’s burning body had a wonderful fragrance.

  2. 2

    Even inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi in distant places smelled the fragrance and were astonished.

  3. 3

    They asked where the fragrance was coming from and went to the place where Pūtanā’s body was being burnt.

Key points from the purport
  • The aroma of the smoke emanating from a burning fire is not always very favorable.
  • Therefore upon smelling such a wonderful fragrance, the inhabitants of Vraja were astonished.

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:

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. kaṭa-dhūmasyaof the smoke emanating from the fire burning the different parts of Pūtanā’s body
  2. saurabhyamthe fragrance
  3. avaghrāyawhen they smelled through their nostrils
  4. vraja-okasaḥthe inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi in distant places
  5. kim idamwhat is this fragrance
  6. kutaḥwhere does it come from
  7. evaindeed
  8. itiin this way
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

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 strikes you about the inhabitants’ wonder at this unexpected fragrance?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, pausing to consider why the inhabitants were astonished.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Astonishing FragranceThis 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 10.6.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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