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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 9: Mother Yaśodā Binds Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.9.710.9.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.9.8

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

उलूखलाङ्‌घ्रेरुपरि व्यवस्थितं

मर्काय कामं ददतं शिचि स्थितम् ।

हैयङ्गवं चौर्यविशङ्कितेक्षणं

निरीक्ष्य पश्चात् सुतमागमच्छनै: ॥ ८ ॥

ulūkhalāṅghrer upari vyavasthitaṁ

markāya kāmaṁ dadataṁ śici sthitam

haiyaṅgavaṁ caurya-viśaṅkitekṣaṇaṁ

nirīkṣya paścāt sutam āgamac chanaiḥ

Translation

Kṛṣṇa, at that time, was sitting on an upside-down wooden mortar for grinding spices and was distributing milk preparations such as yogurt and butter to the monkeys as He liked. Because of having stolen, He was looking all around with great anxiety, suspecting that He might be chastised by His mother. Mother Yaśodā, upon seeing Him, very cautiously approached Him from behind.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Yaśodā Follows Kṛṣṇa’s Butter-Smeared Footprints

  1. 1

    Mother Yaśodā traced Kṛṣṇa by following His butter-smeared footprints. Seeing Him stealing butter, she smiled.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa sat on an upside-down wooden mortar and distributed milk preparations to the monkeys as He liked.

  3. 3

    Afraid that His mother might chastise Him for stealing, Kṛṣṇa anxiously looked around. Mother Yaśodā approached Him cautiously from behind.

Key points from the purport
  • Mother Yaśodā was able to trace Kṛṣṇa by following His butter-smeared footprints.
  • Meanwhile, the crows also entered the room and came out in fear.
  • Thus mother Yaśodā found Kṛṣṇa stealing butter and very anxiously looking here and there.

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:

Having turned the mortar upside down, He was stealing butter hanging from a swing and was distributing the butter to the monkeys. As soon as Kṛṣṇa saw that His mother had come, He immediately began to run away, and mother Yaśodā began to follow Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ulūkhala-aṅghreḥof the mortar in which spices were ground and which was being kept upside down
  2. uparion top
  3. vyavasthitamKṛṣṇa was sitting
  4. markāyaunto a monkey
  5. kāmamaccording to His satisfaction
  6. dadatamdelivering shares
  7. śici sthitamsituated in the butter pot hanging on the swing
  8. haiyaṅgavambutter and other milk preparations
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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you in the contrast between Yaśodā’s smile and Kṛṣṇa’s anxious glances?

Practice

Recall this scene for one minute, beginning with Kṛṣṇa’s butter-smeared footprints.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYaśodā Follows Kṛṣṇa’s Butter-Smeared FootprintsThis 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.

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