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

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.22

Who is speaking and story frame

तावङ्‍‍घ्रियुग्ममनुकृष्य सरीसृपन्तौ

घोषप्रघोषरुचिरं व्रजकर्दमेषु ।

तन्नादहृष्टमनसावनुसृत्य लोकं

मुग्धप्रभीतवदुपेयतुरन्ति मात्रो: ॥ २२ ॥

tāv aṅghri-yugmam anukṛṣya sarīsṛpantau

ghoṣa-praghoṣa-ruciraṁ vraja-kardameṣu

tan-nāda-hṛṣṭa-manasāv anusṛtya lokaṁ

mugdha-prabhītavad upeyatur anti mātroḥ

Translation

When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, with the strength of Their legs, crawled in the muddy places created in Vraja by cow dung and cow urine, Their crawling resembled the crawling of serpents, and the sound of Their ankle bells was very charming. Very much pleased by the sound of other people’s ankle bells, They used to follow these people as if going to Their mothers, but when They saw that these were other people, They became afraid and returned to Their real mothers, Yaśodā and Rohiṇī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Their Crawling Delights Everyone

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma crawled through the muddy places of Vraja, making very sweet sounds with Their ankle bells.

  2. 2

    Enchanted by the sound of others’ ankle bells, They sometimes followed people other than Their mothers. On realizing this, They became afraid and returned to Yaśodā and Rohiṇī.

  3. 3

    The neighbors, the two mothers and the children Themselves all enjoyed these crawling pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were crawling about Vrajabhūmi, They were enchanted by the sound of ankle bells.
  • Thus They sometimes followed other people, who would enjoy the crawling of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and exclaim, “Oh, see how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are crawling!”
  • Thus the crawling of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma was enjoyed by the people of the neighborhood, as well as by mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī and the two children Themselves.

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 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī, increases the transcendental bliss of others, His name is Rāma, and because of His extraordinary strength, He is called Baladeva. He attracts the Yadus to follow His instructions, and therefore His name is Saṅkarṣaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tauKṛṣṇa and Balarāma
  2. aṅghri-yugmam anukṛṣyadragging Their legs
  3. sarīsṛpantaucrawling like snakes
  4. ghoṣa-praghoṣa-ruciramproducing a sound with Their ankle bells that was very, very sweet to hear
  5. vraja-kardameṣuin the mud created by cow dung and cow urine on the earth of Vrajabhūmi
  6. tat-nādaby the sound of those ankle bells
  7. hṛṣṭa-manasaubeing very much pleased
  8. anusṛtyafollowing
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 10.8

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mothers”, “children”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “sweet”

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 detail of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s crawling helps you appreciate the joy They gave everyone?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, giving your attention to the delight of the mothers and neighbors.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTheir Crawling Delights EveryoneThis 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 10.8.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.