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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 · Texts 10.8.37-39

Who is speaking and story frame

सा तत्र दद‍ृशे विश्वं जगत्स्थास्‍नु च खं दिश: ।

साद्रिद्वीपाब्धिभूगोलं सवाय्वग्नीन्दुतारकम् ॥ ३७ ॥

ज्योतिश्चक्रं जलं तेजो नभस्वान्वियदेव च ।

वैकारिकाणीन्द्रियाणि मनो मात्रा गुणास्त्रय: ॥ ३८ ॥

एतद् विचित्रं सहजीवकाल-

स्वभावकर्माशयलिङ्गभेदम् ।

सूनोस्तनौ वीक्ष्य विदारितास्ये

व्रजं सहात्मानमवाप शङ्काम्? ॥ ३९ ॥

sā tatra dadṛśe viśvaṁ

jagat sthāsnu ca khaṁ diśaḥ

sādri-dvīpābdhi-bhūgolaṁ

sa-vāyv-agnīndu-tārakam

jyotiś-cakraṁ jalaṁ tejo

nabhasvān viyad eva ca

vaikārikāṇīndriyāṇi

mano mātrā guṇās trayaḥ

etad vicitraṁ saha-jīva-kāla-

svabhāva-karmāśaya-liṅga-bhedam

sūnos tanau vīkṣya vidāritāsye

vrajaṁ sahātmānam avāpa śaṅkām

Translation

When Kṛṣṇa opened His mouth wide by the order of mother Yaśodā, she saw within His mouth all moving and nonmoving entities, outer space, and all directions, along with mountains, islands, oceans, the surface of the earth, the blowing wind, fire, the moon and the stars. She saw the planetary systems, water, light, air, sky, and creation by transformation of ahaṅkāra. She also saw the senses, the mind, sense perception, and the three qualities, goodness, passion and ignorance. She saw the time allotted for the living entities, she saw natural instinct and the reactions of karma, and she saw desires and different varieties of bodies, moving and nonmoving. Seeing all these aspects of the cosmic manifestation, along with herself and Vṛndāvana-dhāma, she became doubtful and fearful of her son’s nature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Everything Comes From Govinda

  1. 1

    Mother Yaśodā saw the cosmic manifestation within Kṛṣṇa’s mouth, including herself and Vṛndāvana-dhāma. She saw both physical elements and subtle realities such as the mind, desires and reactions of karma.

  2. 2

    All cosmic manifestations come from Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Material nature, including creation, maintenance and annihilation, works under His control.

  3. 3

    Because everything comes from Govinda, everything could be visible within His mouth. Mother Yaśodā’s intense maternal affection left her filled with fear and wonder at what she saw.

Key points from the purport
  • All the cosmic manifestations that exist on the gross and subtle elements, as well as the means of their agitation, the three guṇas, the living entity, creation, maintenance, annihilation and everything going on in the external energy of the Lord — all this comes from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.
  • Because all these manifestations come from Govinda, they could all be visible within the mouth of Govinda.
  • Yet she saw them, and therefore she was struck with fear and wonder.

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 10.8.37-39 quotesBG 9.10

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10).

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāmother Yaśodā
  2. tatrawithin the wide-open mouth of Kṛṣṇa
  3. dadṛśesaw
  4. viśvamthe whole universe
  5. jagatmoving entities
  6. sthāsnumaintenance of nonmoving entities
  7. caand
  8. khamthe sky
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fearful”, “fear”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 recognizing Govinda as the source of everything change the way you view the world?

Practice

Look at one part of nature today and remember that it comes from Govinda and works under His control.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEverything Comes From GovindaThis 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 10.8.37-39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.