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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
10.85.5410.85.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.85.55-56

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.85.52inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पीत्वामृतं पयस्तस्या: पीतशेषं गदाभृत: ।

नारायणाङ्गसंस्पर्शप्रतिलब्धात्मदर्शना: ॥ ५५ ॥

ते नमस्कृत्य गोविन्दं देवकीं पितरं बलम् ।

मिषतां सर्वभूतानां ययुर्धाम दिवौकसाम् ॥ ५६ ॥

pītvāmṛtaṁ payas tasyāḥ

pīta-śeṣaṁ gadā-bhṛtaḥ

nārāyaṇāṅga-saṁsparśa-

pratilabdhātma-darśanāḥ

te namaskṛtya govindaṁ

devakīṁ pitaraṁ balam

miṣatāṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ

yayur dhāma divaukasām

Translation

By drinking her nectarean milk, the remnants of what Kṛṣṇa Himself had previously drunk, the six sons touched the transcendental body of the Lord, Nārāyaṇa, and this contact awakened them to their original identities. They bowed down to Govinda, Devakī, their father and Balarāma, and then, as everyone looked on, they left for the abode of the demigods.

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.

Contact with the Lord Awakens Identity

  1. 1

    The sons drank Devakī’s nectarean milk, the remnants of what Kṛṣṇa had previously drunk. Contact with the transcendental body of the Lord, Nārāyaṇa, awakened them to their original identities.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Devakī had nursed Kṛṣṇa once before Vasudeva carried Him away from Kaṁsa’s prison. She did so that He would not become thirsty during the long journey to Nanda-vraja.

  3. 3

    The sons bowed down to Govinda, Devakī, their father and Balarāma. Then, while everyone watched, they departed for the abode of the demigods.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa remained as an infant with Devakī and Vasudeva for only a very short time.
  • But to save Kṛṣṇa from suffering His brothers’ fate, Vasudeva at once removed Him from Kaṁsa’s prison.
  • Just before Vasudeva took Him away, Mother Devakī suckled Kṛṣṇa once so that He would not feel thirsty during the long trip to Nanda-vraja.

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:

The Lords received the boys from Bali and returned them to Devakī who felt such a surge of affection for them that milk began spontaneously flowing from her breasts. Overjoyed, Devakī fed the children her breastmilk, and by drinking the remnants of milk once drunk by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, they regained their original forms as demigods and went back to heaven.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.85
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pītvāhaving drunk
  2. amṛtamnectarean
  3. payaḥmilk
  4. tasyāḥher
  5. pītaof what had been drunk
  6. śeṣamthe remnants
  7. gadā-bhṛtaḥof Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the club
  8. nārāyaṇaof the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa)
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “father”, “nanda-vraja”

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 the sons’ act of bowing down express their response to what they received?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to Kṛṣṇa today, remembering the sons’ grateful response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayContact with the Lord Awakens IdentityThis 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 10.85.55-56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.