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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.7.19

Who is speaking and story frame

भूमौ निधाय तं गोपी विस्मिता भारपीडिता ।

महापुरुषमादध्यौ जगतामास कर्मसु ॥ १९ ॥

bhūmau nidhāya taṁ gopī

vismitā bhāra-pīḍitā

mahā-puruṣam ādadhyau

jagatām āsa karmasu

Translation

Feeling the child to be as heavy as the entire universe and therefore being anxious, thinking that perhaps the child was being attacked by some other ghost or demon, the astonished mother Yaśodā put the child down on the ground and began to think of Nārāyaṇa. Foreseeing disturbances, she called for the brāhmaṇas to counteract this heaviness, and then she engaged in her other household affairs. She had no alternative than to remember the lotus feet of Nārāyaṇa, for she could not understand that Kṛṣṇa was the original source of everything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Yaśodā Takes Shelter of Nārāyaṇa

  1. 1

    Astonished by Kṛṣṇa’s weight, mother Yaśodā placed Him on the ground. She remembered Nārāyaṇa and called the brāhmaṇas to counteract the disturbance.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the heaviest of all heavy things, and everything rests upon Him. He pervades everything in His impersonal form, yet remains distinct.

  3. 3

    By the arrangement of Yoga-māyā, Yaśodā dealt with Kṛṣṇa as His real mother rather than understanding His supreme position. Her concern was to seek Nārāyaṇa’s shelter for her child’s safety.

Key points from the purport
  • Mother Yaśodā did not understand that Kṛṣṇa is the heaviest of all heavy things and that Kṛṣṇa rests within everything (mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni).
  • Mother Yaśodā was unable to understand this philosophy because she was dealing with Kṛṣṇa as His real mother by the arrangement of Yoga-māyā.
  • Not understanding the importance of Kṛṣṇa, she could only seek shelter of Nārāyaṇa for Kṛṣṇa’s safety and call the brāhmaṇas to counteract the situation.

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 10.7.19 quotesBG 9.4

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4), mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ jagad avyakta-mūrtinā: Kṛṣṇa is everywhere in His impersonal form, and everything rests upon Him.

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 7: The Killing of the Demon Tṛṇāvarta

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When mother Yaśodā saw that Kṛṣṇa was falling asleep, because of other engagements she put the child underneath a household cart, called śakaṭa, and while the child was sleeping, she engaged herself in other business pertaining to the auspicious ritualistic ceremony. Underneath the cart was a cradle, and mother Yaśodā placed the child in that cradle.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhūmauon the ground
  2. nidhāyaplacing
  3. tamthe child
  4. gopīmother Yaśodā
  5. vismitābeing astonished
  6. bhāra-pīḍitābeing aggrieved by the weight of the child
  7. mahā-puruṣamLord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa
  8. ādadhyautook shelter of
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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 10.7

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”, “child”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.7

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.7

    In this verse: “household”

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

When I cannot understand a difficult situation, do I remember to seek the Lord’s shelter?

Practice

Pause during one worry today and remember the lotus feet of Nārāyaṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYaśodā Takes Shelter of NārāyaṇaThis 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 10.7.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.