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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 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī’s Sons
10.85.2610.85.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.85.27-28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.85.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथ तत्र कुरुश्रेष्ठ देवकी सर्वदेवता ।

श्रुत्वानीतं गुरो: पुत्रमात्मजाभ्यां सुविस्मिता ॥ २७ ॥

कृष्णरामौ समाश्राव्य पुत्रान् कंसविहिंसितान् ।

स्मरन्ती कृपणं प्राह वैक्लव्यादश्रुलोचना ॥ २८ ॥

atha tatra kuru-śreṣṭha

devakī sarva-devatā

śrutvānītaṁ guroḥ putram

ātmajābhyāṁ su-vismitā

kṛṣṇa-rāmau samāśrāvya

putrān kaṁsa-vihiṁsitān

smarantī kṛpaṇaṁ prāha

vaiklavyād aśru-locanā

Translation

At that time, O best of the Kurus, the universally worshiped Devakī took the opportunity to address her two sons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Previously she had heard with astonishment that They had brought Their spiritual master’s son back from death. Now, thinking of her own sons who had been murdered by Kaṁsa, she felt great sorrow, and thus with tear-filled eyes she beseeched Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

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.

Devakī Brings Her Sorrow to the Lord

  1. 1

    Devakī had heard with astonishment that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma brought Their spiritual master’s son back from death. Remembering her sons murdered by Kaṁsa, she appealed to Them with tear-filled eyes.

  2. 2

    Her lamentation somewhat distracted her love for Kṛṣṇa. He arranged to relieve her of the mistaken idea that anyone other than Him was actually her son.

  3. 3

    Devakī is worshiped by all great souls. Her display of maternal affection was an effect of the Lord’s Yoga-māyā, His internal energy, which increases the pleasure of His pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • So Kṛṣṇa arranged to relieve her of the mistaken idea that anyone else but Him was actually her son.
  • Since Devakī is known to be worshiped by all great souls, her show of maternal affection must actually have been an effect of the Lord’s Yoga-māyā, who increases the pleasure of His pastimes.
  • Thus in text 54 Devakī will be described as mohitā māyayā viṣṇoḥ, “bewildered by the internal energy of Lord Viṣṇu.”

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. athathen
  2. tatraat that place
  3. kuru-śreṣṭhaO best of the Kurus
  4. devakīMother Devakī
  5. sarvaof everyone
  6. devatāthe supremely worshipable goddess
  7. śrutvāhaving heard
  8. nītambrought back
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “death”

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

What does Devakī’s appeal teach you about turning toward Kṛṣṇa in sorrow?

Practice

Offer one present sorrow to Kṛṣṇa in a brief, sincere prayer.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.85's connections

Live this todayDevakī Brings Her Sorrow to the LordThis 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 10.85.27-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.