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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
10.6.710.6.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विबुध्य तां बालकमारिकाग्रहं

चराचरात्मा स निमीलितेक्षण: ।

अनन्तमारोपयदङ्कमन्तकं

यथोरगं सुप्तमबुद्धिरज्जुधी: ॥ ८ ॥

vibudhya tāṁ bālaka-mārikā-grahaṁ

carācarātmā sa nimīlitekṣaṇaḥ

anantam āropayad aṅkam antakaṁ

yathoragaṁ suptam abuddhi-rajju-dhīḥ

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the all-pervading Supersoul, lying on the bed, understood that Pūtanā, a witch who was expert in killing small children, had come to kill Him. Therefore, as if afraid of her, Kṛṣṇa closed His eyes. Thus Pūtanā took upon her lap Him who was to be her own annihilation, just as an unintelligent person places a sleeping snake on his lap, thinking the snake to be a rope.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Unlimited Lord Cannot Be Killed

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the all-pervading Supersoul, knew that Pūtanā had come to kill Him. He closed His eyes as if afraid.

  2. 2

    Although her motherly affection was artificial, Kṛṣṇa considered that He had to offer her a benediction.

  3. 3

    Pūtanā thought she could kill the very source of her annihilation. But Kṛṣṇa is unlimited, and no one can kill Him.

Key points from the purport
  • When Kṛṣṇa saw that Pūtanā had come to kill Him, He thought that since this woman was present with motherly affection, although artificial, He had to offer her a benediction.
  • Therefore He looked at her with a little perplexity and then closed His eyes again.
  • Because of not being intelligent, Pūtanā thought that she could kill her antakam, the source of her annihilation; but because He is ananta, unlimited, no one can kill Him.

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:

While Nanda Mahārāja, the King of Vraja, was thinking about Vasudeva’s words concerning disturbances in Gokula, he was a little afraid and sought shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Hari. Meanwhile, Kaṁsa sent to the village of Gokula a Rākṣasī named Pūtanā, who was wandering here and there killing small babies.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vibudhyaunderstanding
  2. tāmher (Pūtanā)
  3. bālaka-mārikā-grahama witch very expert in killing small babies
  4. cara-acara-ātmāKṛṣṇa, the all-pervading Supersoul
  5. saḥHe
  6. nimīlita-īkṣaṇaḥclosed His eyes
  7. anantamthe Unlimited
  8. āropayatshe placed
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: “children”, “motherly”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”

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 Kṛṣṇa considering a benediction even when Pūtanā’s affection was artificial?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on Kṛṣṇa’s response to Pūtanā’s appearance of motherly affection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Unlimited Lord Cannot Be KilledThis 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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