Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.12
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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acyuta-ātmasu
—
in those whose self was Acyuta
Compound: acyuta (the infallible Kṛṣṇa) + ātma (self). The boys' very ātman is Kṛṣṇa. Gauḍīyas read this not as Advaitin identity but as the depth of sakhya-rasa: in Vraja, the friend's heart is so absorbed that Kṛṣṇa is his self-content, his self-meaning.
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vatsāḥ
—
the calves
The drift that triggers the entire līlā. The verb-pivot of the chapter — the calves' wandering causes Kṛṣṇa to leave the picnic, which leaves the boys exposed for Brahmā's theft.
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antaḥ-vane
—
deep within the forest
Compound: antaḥ (inner) + vana (forest). The calves go into the forest's interior — geographically and figuratively, into the part of the līlā where Kṛṣṇa must search alone. Antar-vana foreshadows Brahmā's hiding-place.
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tṛṇa-lobhitāḥ
—
lured by grass
Compound: tṛṇa (grass) + lobhita (made to covet). The calves' small greed is the hinge of cosmic-scale līlā. Gauḍīyas note that even in Vraja, lobha — desire for the next bite — sets the entire teaching of the chapter in motion.
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bhārata
—
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit
Vocative — Parīkṣit's lineage name (descendant of Bharata). Śuka uses it as a small dignifying nudge, the way a teacher invokes the disciple's heritage to keep him attentive at the threshold of an especially confidential disclosure.
While the boys whose minds (ātmasu) were absorbed in the Lord as described (evam) ate their meal, the calves, greedy for grass, entered a forest far away. Or, Brahmā made the calves greedy for grass since he did not have the power to take the calves directly from the Lord. Śukadeva calls out to Parīkṣit to express grief.
The boys ate without stopping (acyutatmasu) or ate while thinking of Kṛṣṇa. The calves desiring soft, sweet grass went further and further away. Or the calves which were confined to one area of grass and had finished that grass, became greedy for other grass out of hunger, while the boys were absorbed in eating. Or developed greed for grass by Brahmā’s will. Otherwise they could not leave the Lord. O Bhārata! Śukadeva cries out in grief because of the great misfortune that would arise amidst the great bliss. Yudhiṣṭhira of the same dynsasty while engaged in Rājasūya festival and other royal enjoyments had to suffer banishment to the forest. This happens to fully dedicated devotees by the will of the Lord to manifest special rasa for them.
- SB 10-13-12-23 - The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma - Gauranga Darshan Prabhu 2017-05-29
- BJP SB 10-13-12-27 - 2004-07-06
- Devakinandan Pr SB 10-13-12 - 2017-05-10 Los Angeles
- Gauranga Darshan Pr SB 10-13-12-23 - The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma - 2017-05-29
- Sarvabhauma Pr SB 10-13-12-13 - 2021-10-21 ISKCON Vrindavan
- 04 - RGS SB 10-13-12-39 Hindi - Brahma Vimohan Leela-04 - 2002 Bhuvaneshwar
- What 'calves' (responsibilities, family members, projects) have I let drift while I was absorbed elsewhere?
- Where could a moment of looking up right now save a slow drift before it becomes a crisis?
As iron filings slip away from a magnet only when something stronger pulls them, the calves wander from Kṛṣṇa's circle only when green grass — i.e., māyā's bait — calls them deeper into the wood. Tṛṇa-lobha is the small word that announces the arrival of Brahmā's larger illusion.
My note
Source: vedabase.io