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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 9: Mother Yaśodā Binds Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.9.1510.9.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.9.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.9.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यदासीत्तदपि न्यूनं तेनान्यदपि सन्दधे ।

तदपि द्‌व्यङ्गुलं न्यूनं यद् यदादत्त बन्धनम् ॥ १६ ॥

yadāsīt tad api nyūnaṁ

tenānyad api sandadhe

tad api dvy-aṅgulaṁ nyūnaṁ

yad yad ādatta bandhanam

Translation

This new rope also was short by a measurement of two fingers, and when another rope was joined to it, it was still two fingers too short. As many ropes as she joined, all of them failed; their shortness could not be overcome.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Every Added Rope Remains Too Short

  1. 1

    The new rope was also two fingers too short. Adding more rope did not remove the shortness.

  2. 2

    Mother Yaśodā continued joining one rope after another. Each attempt met the same result.

  3. 3

    As many ropes as she joined, all failed to bind Kṛṣṇa. The distance of two fingers could not be overcome.

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:

When she made the rope longer by adding another rope, she again saw that it was short by two fingers. Again and again she tried, and again and again she found the rope too short by two fingers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhen
  2. āsītbecame
  3. tat apieven the new rope that had been joined
  4. nyūnamstill short
  5. tenathen, with the second rope
  6. anyat apianother rope also
  7. sandadheshe joined
  8. tat apithat also
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 10.9

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What strikes me about the rope remaining equally short after every addition?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, noticing the repeated two-finger shortness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEvery Added Rope Remains Too ShortThis 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 10.9.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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