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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth
10.8.4610.8.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.47

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mother Yaśodāsince 10.8.40inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पितरौ नान्वविन्देतां कृष्णोदारार्भकेहितम् ।

गायन्त्यद्यापि कवयो यल्लोकशमलापहम् ॥ ४७ ॥

pitarau nānvavindetāṁ

kṛṣṇodārārbhakehitam

gāyanty adyāpi kavayo

yal loka-śamalāpaham

Translation

Although Kṛṣṇa was so pleased with Vasudeva and Devakī that He descended as their son, they could not enjoy Kṛṣṇa’s magnanimous childhood pastimes, which are so great that simply chanting about them vanquishes the contamination of the material world. Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, however, enjoyed these pastimes fully, and therefore their position is always better than that of Vasudeva and Devakī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Childhood Pastimes Purify

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa took birth from Devakī’s womb but was immediately transferred to Yaśodā’s home. Devakī could not even nurse Him.

  2. 2

    Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā enjoyed Kṛṣṇa’s childhood pastimes fully. Their extraordinary fortune astonished Parīkṣit Mahārāja.

  3. 3

    Saintly persons continue to glorify these magnanimous childhood pastimes. Simply chanting about them vanquishes the contamination of the material world.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa actually took birth from the womb of Devakī, but just after His birth He was transferred to the home of mother Yaśodā.
  • Devakī could not even have Kṛṣṇa suck her breast.
  • How had mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja become so fortunate that they enjoyed the complete childhood pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, which are still glorified by saintly persons?

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:

Sometimes she assumed the position of a chastising mother, and at the next moment she was overwhelmed with maternal love. After describing all this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, at Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s request, praised the fortune of mother Yaśodā and Nanda.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pitarauthe actual father and mother of Kṛṣṇa
  2. nanot
  3. anvavindetāmenjoyed
  4. kṛṣṇaof Kṛṣṇa
  5. udāramagnanimous
  6. arbhaka-īhitamthe childhood pastimes He performed
  7. gāyantiare glorifying
  8. adya apieven today
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”, “nanda”, “childhood”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “chanting”, “glorify”

  • 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 might remembering the purifying power of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes change the attention you give them?

Practice

Read this translation aloud today, giving particular attention to the glory of Kṛṣṇa’s childhood pastimes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Childhood Pastimes PurifyThis 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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