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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 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth
10.8.2210.8.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.8.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्मातरौ निजसुतौ घृणया स्‍नुवन्त्यौ

पङ्काङ्गरागरुचिरावुपगृह्य दोर्भ्याम् ।

दत्त्वा स्तनं प्रपिबतो: स्म मुखं निरीक्ष्य

मुग्धस्मिताल्पदशनं ययतु: प्रमोदम् ॥ २३ ॥

tan-mātarau nija-sutau ghṛṇayā snuvantyau

paṅkāṅga-rāga-rucirāv upagṛhya dorbhyām

dattvā stanaṁ prapibatoḥ sma mukhaṁ nirīkṣya

mugdha-smitālpa-daśanaṁ yayatuḥ pramodam

Translation

Dressed with muddy earth mixed with cow dung and cow urine, the babies looked very beautiful, and when They went to Their mothers, both Yaśodā and Rohiṇī picked Them up with great affection, embraced Them and allowed Them to suck the milk flowing from their breasts. While sucking the breast, the babies smiled, and Their small teeth were visible. Their mothers, upon seeing those beautiful teeth, enjoyed great transcendental bliss.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Care Brings Transcendental Bliss

  1. 1

    By the arrangement of Yoga-māyā, the babies thought, “Here is My mother,” and the mothers thought, “Here is my son.”

  2. 2

    Out of affection, milk naturally flowed from the mothers’ breasts, and the babies drank it with transcendental pleasure.

  3. 3

    The mothers happily counted the babies’ small teeth. In this exchange of affection, Rohiṇī, Balarāma, Yaśodā and Kṛṣṇa all enjoyed transcendental bliss.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of affection, milk naturally flowed from the mothers’ breasts, and the babies drank it.
  • When the mothers saw small teeth coming in, they would count them and be happy, and when the babies saw Their mothers allowing Them to drink their breast milk, the babies also felt transcendental pleasure.
  • As this transcendental affection continued between Rohiṇī and Balarāma and Yaśodā and Kṛṣṇa, they all enjoyed transcendental bliss.

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. tat-mātarauTheir mothers (Rohiṇī and Yaśodā)
  2. nija-sutautheir own respective sons
  3. ghṛṇayāwith great affection
  4. snuvantyauallowed to suck the flowing milk from their breasts very happily
  5. paṅka-aṅga-rāga-rucirauwhose beautiful transcendental bodies were covered with muddy cow dung and urine
  6. upagṛhyataking care of
  7. dorbhyāmby their arms
  8. dattvādelivering Them
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”, “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 this description show affection being shared by both the mothers and the babies?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering the mothers embracing the smiling babies.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Care Brings Transcendental BlissThis 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.

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