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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 · Text 10.9.11

Who is speaking and story frame

कृतागसं तं प्ररुदन्तमक्षिणी

कषन्तमञ्जन्मषिणी स्वपाणिना ।

उद्वीक्षमाणं भयविह्वलेक्षणं

हस्ते गृहीत्वा भिषयन्त्यवागुरत् ॥ ११ ॥

kṛtāgasaṁ taṁ prarudantam akṣiṇī

kaṣantam añjan-maṣiṇī sva-pāṇinā

udvīkṣamāṇaṁ bhaya-vihvalekṣaṇaṁ

haste gṛhītvā bhiṣayanty avāgurat

Translation

When caught by mother Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa became more and more afraid and admitted to being an offender. As she looked upon Him, she saw that He was crying, His tears mixing with the black ointment around His eyes, and as He rubbed His eyes with His hands, He smeared the ointment all over His face. Mother Yaśodā, catching her beautiful son by the hand, mildly began to chastise Him.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Exalted Position of Loving Service

  1. 1

    Caught by mother Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa admitted His offense and cried, rubbing His eyes and smearing their black ointment over His face.

  2. 2

    Even powerful beings fear Kṛṣṇa, yet He became dependent on mother Yaśodā. Their dealings reveal the exalted position of a pure devotee in loving service to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Mother Yaśodā did not want to chastise her beloved child very much, so she threw away her stick. She mildly rebuked Him and said she would bind Him to prevent further offenses.

Key points from the purport
  • From these dealings between mother Yaśodā and Kṛṣṇa, we can understand the exalted position of a pure devotee in loving service to the Lord.
  • Yet this Kṛṣṇa became so dependent on mother Yaśodā that when she simply showed Kṛṣṇa the stick in her hand, Kṛṣṇa admitted to being an offender and began to cry like an ordinary child.
  • Mother Yaśodā, of course, did not want to chastise her beloved child very much, and therefore she immediately threw her stick away and simply rebuked Kṛṣṇa, saying, “Now I shall bind You so that You cannot commit any further offensive activities.

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 9: Mother Yaśodā Binds Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After going some distance, mother Yaśodā was able to catch Kṛṣṇa, who because of His offense was crying. Mother Yaśodā, of course, threatened to punish Kṛṣṇa if He acted that way again, and she decided to bind Him with rope.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.9
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṛta-āgasamwho was an offender
  2. tamunto Kṛṣṇa
  3. prarudantamwith a crying attitude
  4. akṣiṇīHis two eyes
  5. kaṣantamrubbing
  6. añjat-maṣiṇīfrom whose eyes the blackish ointment was distributed all over His face with tears
  7. sva-pāṇināwith His own hand
  8. udvīkṣamāṇamwho was seen in that attitude by mother Yaśodā
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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 10.9

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”, “child”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.9

    In this verse: “offender”, “offense”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.9

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Kṛṣṇa’s dependence on mother Yaśodā reveal to you about loving devotional service?

Practice

Reread mother Yaśodā’s gentle response, then offer a short prayer for the desire to serve Kṛṣṇa with love.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

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

Live this todayThe Exalted Position of Loving ServiceThis 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 10.9.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.