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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 82: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
10.82.3710.82.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.82.38

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Rohiṇī and Devakīsince 10.82.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतावद‍ृष्टपितरौ युवयो: स्म पित्रो:

सम्प्रीणनाभ्युदयपोषणपालनानि ।

प्राप्योषतुर्भवति पक्ष्म ह यद्वदक्ष्णो-

र्न्यस्तावकुत्रचभयौ न सतां पर: स्व: ॥ ३८ ॥

etāv adṛṣṭa-pitarau yuvayoḥ sma pitroḥ

samprīṇanābhyudaya-poṣaṇa-pālanāni

prāpyoṣatur bhavati pakṣma ha yadvad akṣṇor

nyastāv akutra ca bhayau na satāṁ paraḥ svaḥ

Translation

Before these two boys had ever seen Their real parents, you acted as Their parents and gave Them all affectionate care, training, nourishment and protection. They were never afraid, good lady, because you protected Them just as eyelids protect the eyes. Indeed, saintly persons like you never discriminate between outsiders and their own kin.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly Care Knows No Outsiders

  1. 1

    Nanda and Yaśodā gave Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma affectionate care, training, nourishment and protection. They guarded Them as eyelids protect the eyes, so the boys were never afraid.

  2. 2

    Saintly persons do not discriminate between outsiders and their own kin. Nanda and Yaśodā’s parental care expresses this quality.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are never actually born and therefore have no parents. Yet They and Yaśodā were so bound by affection that Devakī’s words could not interrupt their absorption.

Key points from the purport
  • As Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had not seen Their parents for two reasons: because of Their exile in Vraja, and also because They are never actually born and therefore have no parents.
  • Thus you simply keep staring at us, your friends, without recognizing us.
  • So let us now go outside to meet with Pṛthā, Draupadī and the others.”

The purport'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

Humility and separation → Friendship and reunion. The sweetness of relationship outweighs prestige.

Chapters 80–86 of Canto 10: Sudāmā and reunion with the residents of Vraja. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 82: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Vasudeva also embraced Nanda with great joy and remembered how, when Vasudeva was tormented by Kaṁsa, Nanda had taken his sons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, under his protection. Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa embraced and bowed down to mother Yaśodā, but Their throats choked up with emotion and they could say nothing to her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.82
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etauthese two
  2. adṛṣṭanot having seen
  3. pitarauTheir parents
  4. yuvayoḥof you two
  5. smaindeed
  6. pitroḥthe parents
  7. samprīṇanacoddling
  8. abhyudayabringing up
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 10.82

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “nanda”, “parental”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.82

    In this verse: “protection”, “guarded”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.82

    In this verse: “afraid”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where can I show care without treating someone as an outsider?

Practice

Offer one small act of practical care to someone outside your family today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySaintly Care Knows No OutsidersThis 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 10.82.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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