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 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

12345678910

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 2 · Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions
2.7.302.7.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.31

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.7.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

नन्दं च मोक्ष्यति भयाद् वरुणस्य पाशाद्

गोपान् बिलेषु पिहितान् मयसूनुना च ।

अह्न्यापृतं निशि शयानमतिश्रमेण

लोकं विकुण्ठमुपनेष्यति गोकुलं स्म ॥ ३१ ॥

nandaṁ ca mokṣyati bhayād varuṇasya pāśād

gopān bileṣu pihitān maya-sūnunā ca

ahny āpṛtaṁ niśi śayānam atiśrameṇa

lokaṁ vikuṇṭham upaneṣyati gokulaṁ sma

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa saved His foster father, Nanda Mahārāja, from the fear of the demigod Varuṇa and released the cowherd boys from the caves of the mountain, for they were placed there by the son of Maya. Also, to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, who were busy working during daytime and sleeping soundly at night because of their hard labor in the day, Lord Kṛṣṇa awarded promotion to the highest planet in the spiritual sky. All these acts are transcendental and certainly prove without any doubt His Godhood.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Kṛṣṇa the Center of Daily Duties

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa rescued Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd boys and awarded the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana the highest spiritual planet. These transcendental acts prove His Godhood.

  2. 2

    The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana worked hard by day and slept soundly at night, yet they were always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. Everything they did was spiritualized through their relationship with Him.

  3. 3

    One should discharge one's duties on Lord Kṛṣṇa's behalf. This is the advantage of bhakti-yoga: ordinary actions become filled with Kṛṣṇa thought.

Key points from the purport
  • Nanda Mahārāja, the foster father of Lord Kṛṣṇa, went to take his bath in the river Yamunā in the dead of night, mistakenly thinking that the night was already over; thus the demigod Varuṇa took him to the Varuṇa planet just to have a look at the Personality of Godhead Lord Kṛṣṇa, who appeared there to release His father.
  • Actually there was no arrest of Nanda Mahārāja by Varuṇa because the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were always engaged in thinking of Kṛṣṇa, in constant meditation on the Personality of Godhead in a particular form of samādhi, or trance of bhakti-yoga.
  • One should discharge one’s duty on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s behalf, and all one’s actions will be saturated with Kṛṣṇa thought, the highest pattern of trance in spiritual realization.

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

Uncertainty → Awe. The scale of reality widens dramatically.

Chapters 4–7 of Canto 2: The creation, cosmic Person and incarnations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

Brahmā recounts the Lord’s incarnations and explains that unalloyed surrender enables one to understand Him.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nandamunto Nanda (the father of Kṛṣṇa)
  2. caalso
  3. mokṣyatisaves
  4. bhayātfrom the fear of
  5. varuṇasyaof Varuṇa, the demigod of water
  6. pāśātfrom the clutches of
  7. gopānthe cowherd men
  8. bileṣuin the caves of the mountain
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “nanda”, “father”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “saved”, “rescued”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “maya”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which daily duty could you do with Kṛṣṇa as its central purpose?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and consciously undertake it as service to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Kṛṣṇa the Center of Daily DutiesThis 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 2.7.31? 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