Canto 10: The Summum Bonum
SB10.48

Canto 10 · Chapter 48 · 36 verses · 1 story

Kṛṣṇa Pleases His Devotees

Kṛṣṇa visits Trivakrā and Akrūra, then sends Akrūra to learn about the Pāṇḍavas.

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From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Connected storiesKubjā (Trivakrā)Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves homeKaṁsa
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

In this chapter Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa first visits Trivakrā (also known as Kubjā) and enjoys with her, and then He visits Akrūra. The Lord sends Akrūra to Hastināpura to satisfy the Pāṇḍavas.

After Uddhava had related to Śrī Kṛṣṇa the news of Vraja, the Lord went to the home of Trivakrā, which was decorated with diverse ornamentation conducive to sexual enjoyment. Trivakrā welcomed Kṛṣṇa with great respect, giving Him a raised seat and, together with her female companions, worshiping Him. She also offered Uddhava a seat, as befitted his position, but Uddhava simply touched the seat and sat on the floor.

Lord Kṛṣṇa then reclined on an opulent bed as the maidservant Trivakrā elaborately washed and decorated herself. Then she approached Him. Kṛṣṇa invited Trivakrā to the bed and began to enjoy with her in various ways. By embracing Lord Kṛṣṇa, Trivakrā freed herself of the torment of lust. She asked Kṛṣṇa to remain with her for some time, and the considerate Lord promised to fulfill her request in due course. He then returned with Uddhava to His residence. Apart from offering sandal paste to Kṛṣṇa, Trivakrā had never performed any pious acts, yet simply on the strength of the piety of this single act she attained the rare personal association of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa next went to Akrūra’s house with Lord Baladeva and Uddhava. Akrūra honored the three of them by bowing down and presenting them with suitable sitting places. Then he worshiped Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, washed Their feet and poured the water on his head. Akrūra also offered Them many prayers.

Lord Kṛṣṇa was pleased with Akrūra’s prayers. He told him that since he, Akrūra, was in fact Their paternal uncle, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma should be the recipients of his protection and mercy. Lord Kṛṣṇa then praised Akrūra as a saint and purifier of the sinful, and He asked him to visit Hastināpura to find out how the Pāṇḍavas, deprived of their father, were faring. Finally, the Lord returned home, taking Balarāma and Uddhava with Him.

In this chapter

Who · Kṛṣṇa, Akrūra, Kuntīdevī, Vidura, Dhṛtarāṣṭra

The story · After visiting Trivakrā, Kṛṣṇa went with Balarāma and Uddhava to please Akrūra at his home. He sent Akrūra to Hastināpura to learn how the Pāṇḍavas were being treated. There Kuntīdevī and Vidura described the hostility of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, and Kuntī prayed to Kṛṣṇa for shelter. Akrūra comforted her and advised Dhṛtarāṣṭra to rule impartially. The king admitted that attachment to his own sons prevented the advice from remaining fixed in his heart.

What it teaches · A ruler should treat those under his protection fairly, rather than being governed by family attachment. Kuntī identifies Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet as the shelter from death and rebirth.

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

What it teaches · Hearing about Kṛṣṇa had already awakened the Mathurā women’s attraction to Him. The women in the arena also teach that one should not remain where irreligion is flourishing.

Now, in His external pastimes, He desired to bless Śrīmatī Trivakrā, who was about to be freed from the disease of material lust.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.48.1 (Text 1)

It is clear from the commentaries of the ācāryas that the story of Trivakrā is to be understood on two levels.

Read the story in SB 10.41–44

Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home

SB 1.13 · Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home

What it teaches · No one in the material world can prevent the approach of time and the decline of the body. Understanding this calls one away from bodily attachment toward spiritual realization.

We have heard that when their father passed away, the young Pāṇḍavas were brought with their anguished mother to the capital city by King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and that they are now living there.

Indeed, weak-minded Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, has come under the control of his wicked sons, and therefore that blind King is not treating his brother’s sons fairly.

Read the story in SB 1.13

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa appears by His own spiritual energy, not as an ordinary conditioned soul. His name, form, and attributes are understood through devotional service.

[Akrūra said:] It is our good fortune that You two Lords have killed the evil Kaṁsa and his followers, thus delivering Your dynasty from endless suffering and causing it to flourish.

Lord Kṛṣṇa had promised Akrūra that after killing Kaṁsa He would visit his home, and now the Lord kept His promise.

Read the story in SB 10.1–4

Same themes in another canto

Both chapters carry these themes strongly in the themes map, an editorial reading of each chapter's story.