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

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 10 · Chapter 1: The Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Introduction
10.1.3010.1.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.1.31-32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.1.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

चतु:शतं पारिबर्हं गजानां हेममालिनाम् । अश्वानामयुतं सार्धं रथानां च त्रिषट्‌शतम् ॥ ३१ ॥ दासीनां सुकुमारीणां द्वे शते समलङ्कृते । दुहित्रे देवक: प्रादाद् याने दुहितृवत्सल: ॥ ३२ ॥

catuḥ-śataṁ pāribarhaṁ

gajānāṁ hema-mālinām

aśvānām ayutaṁ sārdhaṁ

rathānāṁ ca tri-ṣaṭ-śatam

dāsīnāṁ sukumārīṇāṁ

dve śate samalaṅkṛte

duhitre devakaḥ prādād

yāne duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ

Translation

Devakī’s father, King Devaka, was very much affectionate to his daughter. Therefore, while she and her husband were leaving home, he gave her a dowry of four hundred elephants nicely decorated with golden garlands. He also gave ten thousand horses, eighteen hundred chariots, and two hundred very beautiful young maidservants, fully decorated with ornaments.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Family Affection in Marriage Customs

  1. 1

    King Devaka was very affectionate toward Devakī and gave her gifts suitable to his royal position. These included four hundred elephants, ten thousand horses, eighteen hundred chariots, and two hundred maidservants.

  2. 2

    The purport explains dowry as a long-standing Vedic custom. Since a daughter did not inherit her father’s property in that system, an affectionate father gave her as much as possible at marriage.

  3. 3

    A bride’s brother would accompany his sister and brother-in-law to show affection, as Kaṁsa did. The purport describes these as customs of varṇāśrama-dharma.

Key points from the purport
  • The system of giving a dowry to one’s daughter has existed in Vedic civilization for a very long time.
  • Even today, following the same system, a father who has money will give his daughter an opulent dowry.
  • A daughter would never inherit the property of her father, and therefore an affectionate father, during the marriage of his daughter, would give her as much as possible.

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

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Introduction

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After marrying Devakī, Vasudeva was returning home with her on a chariot driven by Kaṁsa, her brother, when an ominous voice addressed Kaṁsa, warning him that Devakī’s eighth son would kill him. Upon hearing this omen, Kaṁsa was immediately ready to kill Devakī, but Vasudeva diplomatically began to instruct him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. catuḥ-śatamfour hundred
  2. pāribarhamdowry
  3. gajānāmof elephants
  4. hema-mālināmdecorated with garlands of gold
  5. aśvānāmof horses
  6. ayutamten thousand
  7. sārdhamalong with
  8. rathānāmof chariots
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “father”, “father’s”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “varṇāśrama-dharma”

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

How do the gifts and accompaniment express family affection in this account?

Practice

Give a family member a small gift or some practical assistance within your means.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFamily Affection in Marriage CustomsThis 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 10.1.31-32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.