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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
10.6.4210.6.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.43

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

नन्द: स्वपुत्रमादाय प्रेत्यागतमुदारधी: ।

मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय परमां मुदं लेभे कुरूद्वह ॥ ४३ ॥

nandaḥ sva-putram ādāya

pretyāgatam udāra-dhīḥ

mūrdhny upāghrāya paramāṁ

mudaṁ lebhe kurūdvaha

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of the Kurus, Nanda Mahārāja was very liberal and simple. He immediately took his son Kṛṣṇa on his lap as if Kṛṣṇa had returned from death, and by formally smelling his son’s head, Nanda Mahārāja undoubtedly enjoyed transcendental bliss.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nanda Mahārāja’s Simple Love

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja was very liberal and simple. He could not understand how the inhabitants of his house had allowed Pūtanā to enter or imagine the gravity of the situation.

  2. 2

    He did not understand that Kṛṣṇa had wanted to kill Pūtanā and that His pastimes were performed by Yoga-māyā. He simply thought that someone had entered his house and created havoc.

  3. 3

    Nanda Mahārāja immediately took Kṛṣṇa on his lap as if his son had returned from death. By formally smelling his son’s head, he enjoyed transcendental bliss.

Key points from the purport
  • Nanda Mahārāja could not understand how the inhabitants of his house had allowed Pūtanā to enter the house, nor could he imagine the gravity of the situation.
  • He did not understand that Kṛṣṇa had wanted to kill Pūtanā and that His pastimes were performed by Yoga-māyā.
  • Nanda Mahārāja simply thought that someone had entered his house and created havoc.

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:

When the inhabitants of Vraja heard about the killing of Pūtanā and the welfare of the child, they were very much satisfied. Nanda Mahārāja took the baby Kṛṣṇa on his lap and was filled with satisfaction.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nandaḥMahārāja Nanda
  2. sva-putram ādāyataking his son Kṛṣṇa on his lap
  3. pretya-āgatamas if Kṛṣṇa had returned from death (no one could even imagine that from such danger a child could be saved)
  4. udāra-dhīḥbecause he was always liberal and simple
  5. mūrdhnion the head of Kṛṣṇa
  6. upāghrāyaformally smelling
  7. paramāmhighest
  8. mudampeace
  9. lebheachieved
  10. kuru-udvahaO Mahārāja Parīkṣit
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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “understand”

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 touches you about Nanda Mahārāja’s affection for Kṛṣṇa, even without understanding His purpose?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute today remembering Nanda Mahārāja taking Kṛṣṇa on his lap with affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNanda Mahārāja’s Simple LoveThis 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.

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