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

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 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 ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
3.2.253.2.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.2.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

ततो नन्दव्रजमित: पित्रा कंसाद्विबिभ्यता ।

एकादश समास्तत्र गूढार्चि: सबलोऽवसत् ॥ २६ ॥

tato nanda-vrajam itaḥ

pitrā kaṁsād vibibhyatā

ekādaśa samās tatra

gūḍhārciḥ sa-balo ’vasat

Translation

Thereafter, His father, being afraid of Kaṁsa, brought Him to the cow pastures of Mahārāja Nanda, and there He lived for eleven years like a covered flame with His elder brother, Baladeva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Enjoys His Devotees’ Care

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa had no fear of Kaṁsa or anyone else. He agreed to be carried to Vṛndāvana to play the role of a child and fulfill His devotees’ desires.

  2. 2

    He lived there for eleven years with His elder brother, Lord Baladeva, His first expansion. There He completed His fascinating childhood, boyhood and adolescent pastimes.

  3. 3

    The Lord is everyone’s father and protector, yet He enjoys being treated as a son who needs protection. Vasudeva’s loving care gave Him transcendental joy.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is not affected by such determination of men of Kaṁsa’s class, but in order to play the role of a child He agreed to be carried by His father to the cow pastures of Nanda Mahārāja because Vasudeva was afraid of Kaṁsa.
  • Nanda Mahārāja was due to receive Him as his child, and Yaśodāmayī was also to enjoy the childhood pastimes of the Lord, and therefore to fulfill everyone’s desire, He was carried from Mathurā to Vṛndāvana just after His appearance in the prison house of Kaṁsa.
  • Thus when Vasudeva, out of fear of Kaṁsa, carried Him to Vṛndāvana, the Lord enjoyed it; otherwise, He had no fear from Kaṁsa or anyone else.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.45.3

‘Like a covered flame, Lord Kṛṣṇa remained there incognito with Balarāma for eleven years.’

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

Separation → Devotional remembrance. Uddhava's tears and silence make remembrance emotionally immediate.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 3: Vidura meets Uddhava and hears of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Uddhava remembers Kṛṣṇa in devotional ecstasy and recounts His disappearance, supremacy, and childhood activities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.2
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. nanda-vrajamcow pastures of Nanda Mahārāja
  3. itaḥbeing brought up
  4. pitrāby His father
  5. kaṁsātfrom Kaṁsa
  6. vibibhyatābeing afraid of
  7. ekādaśaeleven
  8. samāḥyears
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 3.2

    In this verse: “nanda”, “father”, “child”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “devotees’”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the Lord’s joy in His devotees’ care teach you about loving service?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering how Kṛṣṇa accepted Vasudeva’s care, although He needed no protection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.2's connections

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Enjoys His Devotees’ CareThis 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 3.2.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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