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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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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 7: The Killing of the Demon Tṛṇāvarta
10.7.1910.7.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.7.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.7.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दैत्यो नाम्ना तृणावर्त: कंसभृत्य: प्रणोदित: ।

चक्रवातस्वरूपेण जहारासीनमर्भकम् ॥ २० ॥

daityo nāmnā tṛṇāvartaḥ

kaṁsa-bhṛtyaḥ praṇoditaḥ

cakravāta-svarūpeṇa

jahārāsīnam arbhakam

Translation

While the child was sitting on the ground, a demon named Tṛṇāvarta, who was a servant of Kaṁsa’s, came there as a whirlwind, at Kaṁsa’s instigation, and very easily carried the child away into the air.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Reveals His Inconceivable Energy

  1. 1

    At Kaṁsa’s instigation, his servant Tṛṇāvarta came as a whirlwind and carried Kṛṣṇa into the air.

  2. 2

    Although Kṛṣṇa’s weight had been unbearable for His mother, He became lighter than grass so that the demon could carry Him.

  3. 3

    This was a demonstration of Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable energy. The purport describes it as ānanda-cinmaya-rasa, His blissful, transcendental pleasure.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa’s heaviness was unbearable for the child’s mother, but when Tṛṇāvartāsura came, he immediately carried the child away.
  • This was another demonstration of Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable energy.
  • When the Tṛṇāvarta demon came, Kṛṣṇa became lighter than the grass so that the demon could carry Him away.

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 7: The Killing of the Demon Tṛṇāvarta

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

She was so astonished that she had to put the child down, and in the meantime Tṛṇāvarta, one of the servants of Kaṁsa, appeared there as a whirlwind and took the child away. The whole tract of land known as Gokula became surcharged with dust, no one could see where the child had been taken, and all the gopīs were overwhelmed because He had been taken away in the dust storm.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. daityaḥanother demon
  2. nāmnāby the name
  3. tṛṇāvartaḥTṛṇāvartāsura
  4. kaṁsa-bhṛtyaḥa servant of Kaṁsa
  5. praṇoditaḥhaving been induced by him
  6. cakravāta-svarūpeṇain the form of a whirlwind
  7. jahāraswept away
  8. āsīnamthe sitting
  9. arbhakamchild
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 10.7

    In this verse: “child”, “mother”

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

How does Kṛṣṇa’s change in weight challenge my ordinary understanding of His power?

Practice

Reread the account of Kṛṣṇa becoming lighter than grass and briefly reflect on His inconceivable energy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Reveals His Inconceivable EnergyThis 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 10.7.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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