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

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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 1 · Chapter 10: Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā
1.10.281.10.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.10.29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.10.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

या वीर्यशुल्केन हृता: स्वयंवरे

प्रमथ्य चैद्यप्रमुखान् हि शुष्मिण: ।

प्रद्युम्नसाम्बाम्बसुतादयोऽपरा

याश्चाहृता भौमवधे सहस्रश: ॥ २९ ॥

yā vīrya-śulkena hṛtāḥ svayaṁvare

pramathya caidya-pramukhān hi śuṣmiṇaḥ

pradyumna-sāmbāmba-sutādayo ’parā

yāś cāhṛtā bhauma-vadhe sahasraśaḥ

Translation

The children of these ladies are Pradyumna, Sāmba, Amba, etc. Ladies like Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā and Jāmbavatī were forcibly taken away by Him from their svayaṁvara ceremonies after He defeated many powerful kings, headed by Śiśupāla. And other ladies were also forcibly taken away by Him after He killed Bhaumāsura and thousands of his assistants. All of these ladies are glorious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Responds to Humble Prayers

  1. 1

    A svayaṁvara allowed a qualified princess to choose her bridegroom through an open competition among princes. Kṛṣṇa’s unrivalled prowess brought Him victory over Śiśupāla and other princes.

  2. 2

    The princesses held captive by Bhaumāsura prayed fervently to Kṛṣṇa for deliverance. The merciful Lord answered their prayers and released them by defeating their captor.

  3. 3

    Although society regarded the captive princesses as fallen, the all-powerful Lord accepted their humble prayers. He married them and honored them as queens.

Key points from the purport
  • Rukmiṇī, the principal queen of Lord Kṛṣṇa, was the daughter of the King of Vidarbha, who wished that his qualified and beautiful daughter be given away to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • So there was open competition, and as usual Lord Kṛṣṇa emerged successful, after harassing Śiśupāla and other princes by His unrivalled prowess.
  • There were other queens also taken away by Lord Kṛṣṇa in a similar way.

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

Longing → Joy and continuity. Departure and welcome coexist; Parīkṣit embodies continuity of grace.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 1: Kṛṣṇa returns to Dvārakā; Parīkṣit is born. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā

Kṛṣṇa leaves Hastināpura for Dvārakā amid His relatives’ affection and praise.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāthe lady
  2. vīryaprowess
  3. śulkenaby payment of the price
  4. hṛtāḥtaken away by force
  5. svayaṁvarein the open selection of the bridegroom
  6. pramathyaharassing
  7. caidyaKing Śiśupāla
  8. pramukhānheaded by
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.10

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.10

    In this verse: “children”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 1.10

    In this verse: “humble”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Kṛṣṇa’s response to the captive princesses teach me about approaching Him sincerely?

Practice

Offer one simple, sincere prayer to Kṛṣṇa for His mercy.

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 1.10's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Responds to Humble PrayersThis 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 1.10.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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