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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
3.2.273.2.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.28

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

कौमारीं दर्शयंश्चेष्टां प्रेक्षणीयां व्रजौकसाम् ।

रुदन्निव हसन्मुग्धबालसिंहावलोकन: ॥ २८ ॥

kaumārīṁ darśayaṁś ceṣṭāṁ

prekṣaṇīyāṁ vrajaukasām

rudann iva hasan mugdha-

bāla-siṁhāvalokanaḥ

Translation

When the Lord displayed His activities just suitable for childhood, He was visible only to the residents of Vṛndāvana. Sometimes He would cry and sometimes laugh, just like a child, and while so doing He would appear like a lion cub.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is Everyone’s Life and Soul

  1. 1

    To enjoy the Lord’s childhood pastimes, one must follow the residents of Vraja, such as Nanda and Upananda. His crying and laughing filled His devotee parents with transcendental pleasure.

  2. 2

    When demons attacked, Kṛṣṇa sometimes appeared astonished, yet He looked at them like a lion cub and killed them. His companions told their parents, and everyone appreciated His qualities.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa was not only the son of Nanda and Yaśodā but the son of all the elderly inhabitants and the friend of the boys and girls. He was everyone’s life and soul, including the cows and calves.

Key points from the purport
  • If anyone wants to enjoy the childhood pastimes of the Lord, then he has to follow in the footsteps of the residents of Vraja like Nanda, Upananda and other parental inhabitants.
  • Sometimes when attacked in the forest by demons, Kṛṣṇa would appear struck with wonder, but He looked on them like the cub of a lion and killed them.
  • Child Kṛṣṇa did not belong only to His parents, Nanda and Yaśodā; He was the son of all the elderly inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and the friend of all contemporary boys and girls.

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

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. kaumārīmjust suitable to childhood
  2. darśayanwhile showing
  3. ceṣṭāmactivities
  4. prekṣaṇīyāmworthy to be seen
  5. vraja-okasāmby the inhabitants of the land of Vṛndāvana
  6. rudancrying
  7. ivajust like
  8. hasanlaughing
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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: “childhood”, “yaśodā”, “nanda”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “friend”, “companions”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can you learn from the residents of Vraja making Kṛṣṇa their life and soul?

Practice

Reread the description of Kṛṣṇa’s crying and laughing, and reflect for a minute on the pleasure it gave His devotee parents.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Everyone’s Life and SoulThis 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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