Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.11.12
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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kṛṣṇam
—
unto Kṛṣṇa
Accusative — the object of Rohiṇī's call. The name Kṛṣṇa, per Gauḍīya etymology, comes from kṛṣ (to attract). Even the all-attractive must be called by His name to attend the meal — the verse plays on the irony with delicate humor.
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bhagna - arjunam
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after the breaking of the arjuna trees
Bhagna-arjuna becomes a līlā-marker — Kṛṣṇa is now identified by the act of having broken the trees, not by His birth or feats alone. Gauḍīya commentators: each līlā becomes a name, a viśeṣaṇa, by which His intimates remember Him.
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rohiṇī
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the mother of Balarāma
Rohiṇī — one of Vasudeva's wives, mother of Balarāma. In Gauḍīya rasa-theology she occupies a unique position: a vātsalya-vessel for two boys at once, including Kṛṣṇa (whom she helps raise) and Balarāma (her own son).
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krīḍantam
—
playing
Krīḍā — divine play, technical term for Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. Gauḍīya teachers: Kṛṣṇa's actions are never karma (productive of bondage) but krīḍā (productive of rasa). Even His call-to-meal interrupts not work but play, because His work is play.
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bhṛśam
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with deep attention
Bhṛśa — intensely, fully. The detail matters because it explains why the call fails: not stubbornness but absorption. The Gauḍīya reading: even Bhagavān, when He chooses naravat-līlā, accepts the limitation of single-pointed boyhood attention.
Mother Yaśodā was more attached to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma than Rohiṇīdevī was, although Rohiṇīdevī was the mother of Balarāma. Mother Yaśodā sent Rohiṇīdevī to call Rāma and Kṛṣṇa from Their play, since it was the right time for lunch. Therefore Rohiṇīdevī went to call Them, breaking Their engagement in play.
To show that Krsna and Balarama were controlled by Yasoda’s affection more than even Rohini’s, another pastimes is presented which occurred after the breaking of the arjuna trees, on the same day. Rohini called Krsna and Balarama, who had gone to play on the bank of the Yamuna. Though the verse does not mention Balarama, the commentary does, because in later verses both boys names are mentioned. Rohini had been sent to call the boys by Yasoda who was attached to boys’ having lunch.
Events of a day after the Dāmodara incident, pastimes are described showing Yaśodā’s care for her son with great affection, in order to show that she had greater affection and control over Balarāma than Rohiṇī had. This description continues till verse 20. Rohiṇī called Kṛṣṇa who had broken the arjuna trees and had gone to the bank of the river. She searched for him with affection. This indicates her anxiety. Kṛṣṇa was absorbed in playing. She called him by all his names. She was sent by Yaśodā who was attached to preparing meals for Kṛṣṇa. She called Kṛṣṇa and also Balarāma. That is understood from a later verse.
The activities after being tied up are described with the intention of showing the daily attention Yaśodā paid to Kṛṣṇa, with the greatest affection. This is described until verse 20. There are various versions and orders of the verses. It will be explained according to the Gauḍiya sampradāya editions. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had gone to the bank of the Yamunā (sarit-tira). Why? He had broken the two trees which were situated on the bank. O it describes an event right after breaking the trees. He went there afterwards. Rohiṇī called Kṛṣṇa, whose heart was attracted to playing, thinking he was hungry because of fatigue from playing, or she was worried that he may perform another similar activity. Rohiṇī was sent by Yaśoḍā because Yaśodā was busy preparing his meal. Calling Kṛṣṇa implies she called Balarāma also since out of affection for both, she considered them one.
- NRM SB 10-11-12-45
- BJP SB 10-11-12-45 - 2004-06-24
- Prithu Pr SB 10-11-12 - 2021-02-01 ISKCON Juhu
- Revati Raman Pr SB 10-11-12 - 2009-11-18 ISKCON Tirupati
- Asita Krishna Sw SB 10-11-12-13 Hindi - Kya bhakta ka prem bhagavan ke man ko aakarshit kar sakta hai - 2025-10-24
- PrahladAnS SB 10-11-12 - Active reading - 2023-12-28 ISKCON Slovenia
- PrahladAnS SB 10-11-12 Slovenian Translation - Aktivno branje - 2023-12-28 ISKCON Slovenia
- Romapada Sw SB 10-11-12-13 - Rohinidevi goes to call Rama and Krishna from the play - 2020-06-16 Naperville
- When an elder or parent calls you mid-task today, drop your absorption immediately and respond — treat it as Yaśodā's call through Rohiṇī.
- Notice one engagement (work, scrolling, conversation) you treat as too important to interrupt, and practice yielding it to a household duty before sundown.
- Eat your meals at the time set by those who care for you, not by your own convenience — receive prasāda-discipline as seva, not interruption.
A boy at play sees his mother appear at the riverbank and the game pauses, the toys are set down — duty's call, when carried by one who loves, has the power to interrupt even Kṛṣṇa's own absorption. The river runs on; the boys go home.
Rohiṇī raised Balarāma alongside Yaśodā's Kṛṣṇa in Nanda's house, a co-mother whose vātsalya for both boys is celebrated throughout the Tenth Canto. Her calling them at the riverside is the ordinary domestic act in which a great rasa hides: she calls; the universe's Lord must be coaxed.
The Gauḍīya commentators note Rohiṇī's discernment in verse 13 — when her own call fails, she sends Yaśodā, recognizing that love-power, not authority-power, is what moves Kṛṣṇa. Her instruction in vātsalya is itself a teaching for the reader.
My note
Source: vedabase.io