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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 10.9.21

Who is speaking and story frame

नायं सुखापो भगवान्देहिनां गोपिकासुत: ।

ज्ञानिनां चात्मभूतानां यथा भक्तिमतामिह ॥ २१ ॥

nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān

dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ

jñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁ

yathā bhaktimatām iha

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Makes Kṛṣṇa Accessible

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is readily accessible to devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service. Speculation and severe austerities do not make Him as easily accessible.

  2. 2

    Everyone is seeking happiness by reviving a relationship with the Supersoul. By following devotees in direct relationship with Kṛṣṇa, especially the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, one can attain His association.

  3. 3

    The pure devotees of Vṛndāvana are fully dedicated to serving Kṛṣṇa with sublime affection. Pure love in relationship with Him is the highest perfection of life.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the son of mother Yaśodā, is very easily available to devotees, but not to tapasvīs, yogīs, jñānīs and others who have a bodily concept of life.
  • But by following in the footsteps of devotees who are in a direct relationship with Kṛṣṇa, especially the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, one can reach the supreme position of associating with Kṛṣṇa.
  • The vṛndāvana-vāsīs — mother Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa’s friends and Kṛṣṇa’s conjugal lovers, the younger gopīs with whom He dances — have very intimate relationships with Kṛṣṇa, and if one follows in the footsteps of these devotees, Kṛṣṇa is available.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 5

The purport of SB 10.9.21 quotesBG 4.11

Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.11): “As living entities surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly.

The purport of SB 10.9.21 quotesBG 15.15

As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ: “By all the Vedas, it is I who am to be known.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 8.227

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) is spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 9.132

This verse, also given in Madhya-līlā 8.227, is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.86

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) was spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 mother Yaśodā bound Kṛṣṇa and became engaged in other household affairs, Kṛṣṇa observed two yamala-arjuna trees, which were actually Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, two sons of Kuvera who had been condemned by Nārada Muni to become trees. Kṛṣṇa, by His mercy, now began to proceed toward the trees to fulfill the desire of Nārada Muni.
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. nanot
  2. ayamthis
  3. sukha-āpaḥvery easily obtainable, or an object of happiness
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. dehināmof persons in the bodily concept of life, especially the karmīs
  6. gopikā-sutaḥKṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā (Kṛṣṇa as the son of Vasudeva is called Vāsudeva, and as the son of mother Yaśodā He is known as Kṛṣṇa)
  7. jñāninām caand of the jñānīs, who try to be free from material contamination
  8. ātma-bhūtānāmof self-sufficient yogīs
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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 10.9

    In this verse: “yaśodā”, “mother”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.9

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.9

    In this verse: “love”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make loving service, rather than personal prestige, the aim of my spiritual effort?

Practice

Reflect on mother Yaśodā’s dedication and write down one way to make your service to Kṛṣṇa more affectionate.

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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 todayLoving Service Makes Kṛṣṇa AccessibleThis 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 10.9.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.