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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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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
10.1.4810.1.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.1.49-50

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.1.46inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रदाय मृत्यवे पुत्रान् मोचये कृपणामिमाम् । सुता मे यदि जायेरन् मृत्युर्वा न म्रियेत चेत् ॥ ४९ ॥ विपर्ययो वा किं न स्याद् गतिर्धातुर्दुरत्यया । उपस्थितो निवर्तेत निवृत्त: पुनरापतेत् ॥ ५० ॥

pradāya mṛtyave putrān

mocaye kṛpaṇām imām

sutā me yadi jāyeran

mṛtyur vā na mriyeta cet

viparyayo vā kiṁ na syād

gatir dhātur duratyayā

upasthito nivarteta

nivṛttaḥ punar āpatet

Translation

Vasudeva considered: By delivering all my sons to Kaṁsa, who is death personified, I shall save the life of Devakī. Perhaps Kaṁsa will die before my sons take birth, or, since he is already destined to die at the hands of my son, one of my sons may kill him. For the time being, let me promise to hand over my sons so that Kaṁsa will give up this immediate threat, and if in due course of time Kaṁsa dies, I shall have nothing to fear.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Address Present Danger Amid Future Uncertainty

  1. 1

    Vasudeva considered promising his sons to Kaṁsa to save Devakī from immediate death.

  2. 2

    He reflected that Kaṁsa might die before any sons were born, or that a son might kill him. He also considered that he might not beget any sons.

  3. 3

    The workings of providence are very difficult to understand. Vasudeva therefore decided to address the danger presently before him.

Key points from the purport
  • Even if a son is born and I deliver him to Kaṁsa, Kaṁsa may die at his hands, for by providence anything could happen.
  • It is very difficult to understand how things are managed by providence.”
  • Thus Vasudeva decided that he would promise to deliver his sons to the hands of Kaṁsa in order to save Devakī from the imminent danger of death.

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:

In due course of time, when Devakī gave birth to a child, Vasudeva brought the newborn baby to Kaṁsa, who, upon seeing Vasudeva’s magnanimity, was struck with wonder. When Vasudeva gave Kaṁsa the child, Kaṁsa, showing some intelligence, said that since he was to be killed by the eighth child, why should he kill the first?
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pradāyapromising to deliver
  2. mṛtyaveunto Kaṁsa, who is death personified for Devakī
  3. putrānmy sons
  4. mocayeI am releasing her from imminent danger
  5. kṛpaṇāminnocent
  6. imāmDevakī
  7. sutāḥsons
  8. memy
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”, “danger”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Does uncertainty about the future keep me from addressing a present need?

Practice

Identify one present need and take a small step to address it, without trying to predict every outcome.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAddress Present Danger Amid Future UncertaintyThis 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 10.1.49-50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.