1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.6.810.6.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.9

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

तां तीक्ष्णचित्तामतिवामचेष्टितां

वीक्ष्यान्तरा कोषपरिच्छदासिवत् ।

वरस्त्रियं तत्प्रभया च धर्षिते

निरीक्ष्यमाणे जननी ह्यतिष्ठताम् ॥ ९ ॥

tāṁ tīkṣṇa-cittām ativāma-ceṣṭitāṁ

vīkṣyāntarā koṣa-paricchadāsivat

vara-striyaṁ tat-prabhayā ca dharṣite

nirīkṣyamāṇe jananī hy atiṣṭhatām

Translation

Pūtanā Rākṣasī’s heart was fierce and cruel, but she looked like a very affectionate mother. Thus she resembled a sharp sword in a soft sheath. Although seeing her within the room, Yaśodā and Rohiṇī, overwhelmed by her beauty, did not stop her, but remained silent because she treated the child like a mother.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Outward Affection Can Conceal Cruel Intent

  1. 1

    Pūtanā’s heart was cruel, though she appeared to be an affectionate mother. She resembled a sharp sword inside a soft sheath.

  2. 2

    Those captivated by external beauty may fail to understand another person’s intentions. The purport calls those deluded by the external energy māyā-mohita.

  3. 3

    Yaśodā and Rohiṇī were not deluded by the external energy. They were captivated by Yoga-māyā to develop the Lord’s pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Pūtanā was an outsider and although she personified fierce death because the determination within her heart was to kill the child, when she directly came and placed the child on her lap to offer the child her breast to suck, the mothers were so captivated by her beauty that they did not prohibit her.
  • Those who are captivated by the beauty of the external energy are called māyā-mohita.

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· 2

The purport of SB 10.6.9 quotesBG 7.13

Mohitaṁ nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam. Here, of course, the two mothers Rohiṇī and Yaśodā were not māyā-mohita, deluded by the external energy, but to develop the pastimes of the Lord, they were captivated by Yoga-māyā.

The purport of SB 10.6.9 quotesSB 7.5.31

Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ. Here, of course, the two mothers Rohiṇī and Yaśodā were not māyā-mohita, deluded by the external energy, but to develop the pastimes of the Lord, they were captivated by Yoga-māyā.

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 baby Kṛṣṇa, who resembled a fire covered by ashes, looked upon Pūtanā and thought that He would have to kill this demon, the beautiful woman. Enchanted by the influence of Yoga-māyā and the Personality of Godhead, Pūtanā took Kṛṣṇa upon her lap, and neither Rohiṇī nor Yaśodā objected.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmthat (Pūtanā Rākṣasī)
  2. tīkṣṇa-cittāmhaving a very fierce heart for killing the child
  3. ati-vāma-ceṣṭitāmalthough she was trying to treat the child better than a mother
  4. vīkṣya antarāseeing her within the room
  5. koṣa-paricchada-asi-vatlike a sharp sword within a soft sheath
  6. vara-striyamthe very beautiful woman
  7. tat-prabhayāby her influence
  8. caalso
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: “yaśodā”, “mother”, “child”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā-mohita”

  • 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

Why is it important to distinguish the mothers’ Yoga-māyā from ordinary delusion by external beauty?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why Yaśodā and Rohiṇī remained silent.

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.

The purport quotesSB 7.5.31

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.6's connections

Live this todayOutward Affection Can Conceal Cruel IntentThis 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 10.6.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories