1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 9: Mother Yaśodā Binds Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.9.310.9.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.9.4

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

तां स्तन्यकाम आसाद्य मथ्नन्तीं जननीं हरि: ।

गृहीत्वा दधिमन्थानं न्यषेधत् प्रीतिमावहन् ॥ ४ ॥

tāṁ stanya-kāma āsādya

mathnantīṁ jananīṁ hariḥ

gṛhītvā dadhi-manthānaṁ

nyaṣedhat prītim āvahan

Translation

While mother Yaśodā was churning butter, Lord Kṛṣṇa, desiring to drink the milk of her breast, appeared before her, and in order to increase her transcendental pleasure, He caught hold of the churning rod and began to prevent her from churning.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Increases His Mother’s Loving Pleasure

  1. 1

    After waking from sleep, Kṛṣṇa became hungry and went to His mother. She was busy churning butter.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa caught hold of the churning rod and stopped her from moving it. He wanted to drink her breast milk.

  3. 3

    By approaching her and interrupting the churning, Lord Kṛṣṇa increased her transcendental pleasure. Their meeting created a situation of love and affection.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa was sleeping within the room, and as soon as He got up, He became hungry and went to His mother.
  • Wanting to stop her from churning and drink the milk of her breasts, He stopped her from moving the churning rod.

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:

One day, the maidservants being engaged in other work, mother Yaśodā was churning the yogurt into butter herself, and in the meantime Kṛṣṇa came and requested her to allow Him to suck her breast milk.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmunto mother Yaśodā
  2. stanya-kāmaḥKṛṣṇa, who was desiring to drink her breast milk
  3. āsādyaappearing before her
  4. mathnantīmwhile she was churning butter
  5. jananīmto the mother
  6. hariḥKṛṣṇa
  7. gṛhītvācatching
  8. dadhi-manthānamthe churning rod
  9. nyaṣedhatforbade
  10. prītim āvahancreating a situation of love and affection
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”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What do you notice about the affection in Kṛṣṇa’s approach to His mother?

Practice

Pause for one minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa holding the churning rod and seeking His mother’s milk.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Increases His Mother’s Loving PleasureThis 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 10.9.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories