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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 7: The Killing of the Demon Tṛṇāvarta
10.7.2610.7.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.7.27

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

तमश्मानं मन्यमान आत्मनो गुरुमत्तया ।

गले गृहीत उत्स्रष्टुं नाशक्नोदद्भ‍ुतार्भकम् ॥ २७ ॥

tam aśmānaṁ manyamāna

ātmano guru-mattayā

gale gṛhīta utsraṣṭuṁ

nāśaknod adbhutārbhakam

Translation

Because of Kṛṣṇa’s weight, Tṛṇāvarta considered Him to be like a great mountain or a hunk of iron. But because Kṛṣṇa had caught the demon’s neck, the demon was unable to throw Him off. He therefore thought of the child as wonderful, since he could neither bear the child nor cast aside the burden.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Enjoyment Defeats the Demon’s Plan

  1. 1

    Tṛṇāvarta intended to carry Kṛṣṇa into the sky and kill Him. Kṛṣṇa instead enjoyed riding on the demon’s body and traveling through the sky.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa became so heavy that Tṛṇāvarta could neither bear Him nor throw Him off. Kṛṣṇa held the demon’s neck very tightly.

  3. 3

    The demon’s attempt failed, and his yogic power could not save him. His death would take place by Kṛṣṇa’s arrangement.

Key points from the purport
  • Tṛṇāvarta intended to take Kṛṣṇa up in the sky and kill Him, but Kṛṣṇa enjoyed the pastime of riding on Tṛṇāvarta’s body and traveling for a while in the sky.
  • Thus Tṛṇāvarta’s attempt to kill Kṛṣṇa failed, while Kṛṣṇa, ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-vigraha, enjoyed this pastime.
  • Now, since Tṛṇāvarta was falling because of Kṛṣṇa’s heaviness, he wanted to save himself by throwing Kṛṣṇa off from his neck, but was unable to do so because Kṛṣṇa held him very tightly.

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:

But up in the sky, the asura, being overburdened by the child, could not carry the child far away, although he also could not drop the child because the child had caught him so tightly that it was difficult for him to separate the child from his body. Thus Tṛṇāvarta himself fell down from a very great height, the child grasping him tightly by the shoulder, and immediately died.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamKṛṣṇa
  2. aśmānamvery heavy stone like a lump of iron
  3. manyamānaḥthinking like that
  4. ātmanaḥ guru-mattayābecause of being heavier than he could personally perceive
  5. galehis neck
  6. gṛhītebeing embraced or encircled by His arms
  7. utsraṣṭumto give up
  8. na aśaknotwas not able
  9. adbhuta-arbhakamthis wonderful child who was different from an ordinary child
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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.7

    In this verse: “death”

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 does the failure of Tṛṇāvarta’s plan reveal about Kṛṣṇa’s control?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on the contrast between the demon’s plan and Kṛṣṇa’s enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Enjoyment Defeats the Demon’s PlanThis 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 10.7.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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