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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 10.8.25

Who is speaking and story frame

श‍ृङ्‌ग्यग्निदंष्ट्र्यसिजलद्विजकण्टकेभ्य:

क्रीडापरावतिचलौ स्वसुतौ निषेद्धुम् ।

गृह्याणि कर्तुमपि यत्र न तज्जनन्यौ

शेकात आपतुरलं मनसोऽनवस्थाम् ॥ २५ ॥

śṛṅgy-agni-daṁṣṭry-asi-jala-dvija-kaṇṭakebhyaḥ

krīḍā-parāv aticalau sva-sutau niṣeddhum

gṛhyāṇi kartum api yatra na taj-jananyau

śekāta āpatur alaṁ manaso ’navasthām

Translation

When mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī were unable to protect the babies from calamities threatened by horned cows, by fire, by animals with claws and teeth such as monkeys, dogs and cats, and by thorns, swords and other weapons on the ground, they were always in anxiety, and their household engagements were disturbed. At that time, they were fully equipoised in the transcendental ecstasy known as the distress of material affection, for this was aroused within their minds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Mothers’ Anxiety Is Transcendental

  1. 1

    Yaśodā and Rohiṇī were anxious to protect their restless babies from cows, fire, animals and other dangers. Their household duties were disturbed.

  2. 2

    These pastimes and the mothers’ enjoyment are entirely transcendental, not material. The purport describes them as ānanda-cinmaya-rasa.

  3. 3

    The spiritual world includes anxiety, crying and other feelings resembling those here. Yet the mothers enjoyed these feelings transcendentally; the material world is only an imitation.

Key points from the purport
  • All these pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, and the great enjoyment exhibited by the mothers, are transcendental; nothing about them is material.
  • They are described in the Brahma-saṁhitā as ānanda-cinmaya-rasa.
  • In the spiritual world there is anxiety, there is crying, and there are other feelings similar to those of the material world, but because the reality of these feelings is in the transcendental world, of which this world is only an imitation, mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī enjoyed them transcendentally.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śṛṅgīwith the cows
  2. agnifire
  3. daṁṣṭrīmonkeys and dogs
  4. asiswords
  5. jalawater
  6. dvijabirds
  7. kaṇṭakebhyaḥand thorns
  8. krīḍā-parau ati-calauthe babies, being too restless, engaged in play
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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 10.8

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”, “mothers’”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “household”, “material”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “ecstasy”

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 the purport change your understanding of the mothers’ anxiety?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why the mothers’ anxiety should not be understood as ordinary material distress.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Mothers’ Anxiety Is TranscendentalThis 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 10.8.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.