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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth
10.8.3410.8.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.35

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.8.35inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नाहं भक्षितवानम्ब सर्वे मिथ्याभिशंसिन: ।

यदि सत्यगिरस्तर्हि समक्षं पश्य मे मुखम् ॥ ३५ ॥

nāhaṁ bhakṣitavān amba

sarve mithyābhiśaṁsinaḥ

yadi satya-giras tarhi

samakṣaṁ paśya me mukham

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied: My dear mother, I have never eaten dirt. All My friends complaining against Me are liars. If you think they are being truthful, you can directly look into My mouth and examine it.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Transcendental Play Deepens Maternal Affection

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa denied eating dirt and invited His mother to examine His mouth. He presented Himself as an innocent child to increase the transcendental ecstasy of maternal affection.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead was playing as a liar and accusing His friends of lying. These exchanges are transcendental service, not ordinary untruthful accusations.

  3. 3

    Association with Kṛṣṇa as His playmate is attained after many, many births of devotional service and great austerities. His companions should never be considered ordinary boys speaking lies.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa presented Himself as an innocent child to increase the transcendental ecstasy of maternal affection.
  • Persons who have amassed the results of a vast amount of pious activities can attain the stage of associating with Kṛṣṇa and playing with Him like ordinary playmates.
  • One should never accuse such devotees of being ordinary boys speaking lies, for they attained this stage of associating with Kṛṣṇa by great austerities (tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca).

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.8.35 quotesSB 10.12.7-11

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.12.11), kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ: a devotee may attain such an ecstatic position after many, many births of devotional service.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Mother Yaśodā wanted to open Kṛṣṇa’s mouth to see the evidence so that she could chastise Him. Sometimes she assumed the position of a chastising mother, and at the next moment she was overwhelmed with maternal love.
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. nanot
  2. ahamI
  3. bhakṣitavānhave eaten dirt
  4. ambaMy dear mother
  5. sarveall of them
  6. mithya-abhiśaṁsinaḥall liars, simply complaining against Me so that you may chastise Me
  7. yadiif it is actually a fact
  8. satya-giraḥthat they have spoken the truth
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: “mother”, “child”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “friends”, “companions”

  • 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 help you distinguish Kṛṣṇa’s play from ordinary childhood behavior?

Practice

Before rereading this exchange, pause to remember that Kṛṣṇa and His companions are engaged in transcendental loving service.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTranscendental Play Deepens Maternal AffectionThis 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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