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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 10.8.8-9

Who is speaking and story frame

कंस: पापमति: सख्यं तव चानकदुन्दुभे: ।

देवक्या अष्टमो गर्भो न स्त्री भवितुमर्हति ॥ ८ ॥

इति सञ्चिन्तयञ्छ्रुत्वा देवक्या दारिकावच: ।

अपि हन्ता गताशङ्कस्तर्हि तन्नोऽनयो भवेत् ॥ ९ ॥

kaṁsaḥ pāpa-matiḥ sakhyaṁ

tava cānakadundubheḥ

devakyā aṣṭamo garbho

na strī bhavitum arhati

iti sañcintayañ chrutvā

devakyā dārikā-vacaḥ

api hantā gatāśaṅkas

tarhi tan no ’nayo bhavet

Translation

Kaṁsa is both a great diplomat and a very sinful man. Therefore, having heard from Yoga-māyā, the daughter of Devakī, that the child who will kill him has already been born somewhere else, having heard that the eighth pregnancy of Devakī could not bring forth a female child, and having understood your friendship with Vasudeva, Kaṁsa, upon hearing that the purificatory process has been performed by me, the priest of the Yadu dynasty, may certainly consider all these points and suspect that Kṛṣṇa is the son of Devakī and Vasudeva. Then he might take steps to kill Kṛṣṇa. That would be a catastrophe.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Sober Warnings Seriously

  1. 1

    Kaṁsa was both skilled in diplomacy and deeply sinful. He could connect Yoga-māyā’s warning, Devakī’s eighth pregnancy and Nanda Mahārāja’s friendship with Vasudeva.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Yoga-māyā is the maidservant of Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu. Kaṁsa understood that she might have been forbidden to disclose the full truth.

  3. 3

    Garga Muni soberly warned that his performing the ceremony could confirm Kaṁsa’s suspicions. Although earlier demons sent against Kṛṣṇa had not survived, Kaṁsa might take still more severe steps.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaṁsa knew very well that Yoga-māyā was, after all, the maidservant of Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu and that although Yoga-māyā had appeared as the daughter of Devakī, she might have been forbidden to disclose this fact.
  • Garga Muni argued very soberly that his taking part in performing the reformatory process for Kṛṣṇa would give rise to many doubts, so that Kaṁsa might take very severe steps to kill the child.
  • If Garga Muni were to perform the purificatory process, Kaṁsa’s suspicions would be fully confirmed, and he would take very severe steps.

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:

Garga Muni, of course, reminded Nanda Mahārāja that Kaṁsa was looking for the son of Devakī and said that if he performed the ceremony very gorgeously, the ceremony would come to the notice of Kaṁsa, who would then suspect that Kṛṣṇa was the son of Devakī. Nanda Mahārāja therefore requested Garga Muni to perform this ceremony without anyone’s knowledge, and Garga Muni did so.
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. kaṁsaḥKing Kaṁsa
  2. pāpa-matiḥvery, very sinful, having a polluted mind
  3. sakhyamfriendship
  4. tavayour
  5. caalso
  6. ānaka-dundubheḥof Vasudeva
  7. devakyāḥof Devakī
  8. aṣṭamaḥ garbhaḥthe eighth pregnancy
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “purificatory”, “sinful”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “child”, “nanda”

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 do I respond when someone thoughtfully warns me about a serious risk?

Practice

Listen carefully to one concern raised by another person today before deciding how to act.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayTake Sober Warnings SeriouslyThis 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 10.8.8-9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.