1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.85.20

Who is speaking and story frame

सूतीगृहे ननु जगाद भवानजो नौ

सञ्जज्ञ इत्यनुयुगं निजधर्मगुप्‍त्‍यै ।

नानातनूर्गगनवद् विदधज्जहासि

को वेद भूम्न उरुगाय विभूतिमायाम् ॥ २० ॥

sūtī-gṛhe nanu jagāda bhavān ajo nau

sañjajña ity anu-yugaṁ nija-dharma-guptyai

nānā-tanūr gagana-vad vidadhaj jahāsi

ko veda bhūmna uru-gāya vibhūti-māyām

Translation

Indeed, while still in the maternity room You told us that You, the unborn Lord, had already been born several times as our son in previous ages. After manifesting each of these transcendental bodies to protect Your own principles of religion, You then made them unmanifest, thus appearing and disappearing like a cloud. O supremely glorified, all-pervading Lord, who can understand the mystic, deluding potency of Your opulent expansions?

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.

The Unborn Lord Appears by His Potency

  1. 1

    Although unborn, the Lord had appeared as Vasudeva and Devakī's son in previous ages. His transcendental bodies appear to protect His own principles of religion.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa first appeared to them in their previous lives as Sutapā and Pṛśni, and later as Kaśyapa and Aditi. His appearance as the son of Vasudeva and Devakī was the third.

  3. 3

    The Lord manifests His transcendental bodies and then makes them unmanifest, appearing and disappearing like a cloud. Vasudeva wonders who can understand the mystic potency of His opulent expansions.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa was first born to Vasudeva and Devakī in their previous lives as Sutapā and Pṛśni.
  • Later they again became His parents as Kaśyapa and Aditi.
  • This, then, was the third time He had appeared as their son.

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 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī’s Sons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then Mother Devakī praised Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, reminding Them how They had retrieved the dead son of Their spiritual master. She said, “Please fulfill my desire in the same way.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.85
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtī-gṛhein the maternity room
  2. nanuindeed
  3. jagādasaid
  4. bhavānYou
  5. ajaḥthe unborn Lord
  6. nauto us
  7. sañjajñeYou have taken birth
  8. itithus
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “glorified”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “protect”

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 knowing that the Lord is unborn affect my understanding of His appearances?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and pause at “the unborn Lord” to reflect on the transcendental nature of His birth.

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 todayThe Unborn Lord Appears by His PotencyThis 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 10.85.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.