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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
10.1.6010.1.62-63

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.61

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.1.55inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तथेति सुतमादाय ययावानकदुन्दुभि: । नाभ्यनन्दत तद्वाक्यमसतोऽविजितात्मन: ॥ ६१ ॥

tatheti sutam ādāya

yayāv ānakadundubhiḥ

nābhyanandata tad-vākyam

asato ’vijitātmanaḥ

Translation

Vasudeva agreed and took his child back home, but because Kaṁsa had no character and no self-control, Vasudeva knew that he could not rely on Kaṁsa’s word.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Trust Requires Character and Self-Control

  1. 1

    Vasudeva accepted Kaṁsa’s permission and took his child home.

  2. 2

    Yet Vasudeva knew that Kaṁsa had neither character nor self-control.

  3. 3

    Vasudeva therefore did not rely on Kaṁsa’s word, even while accepting the opportunity to take his child back.

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:

Although Vasudeva did not trust him, Kaṁsa requested Vasudeva to take the child back. Later, however, after Nārada approached Kaṁsa and disclosed to him that the demigods were appearing in the Yadu and Vṛṣṇi dynasties and conspiring to kill him, Kaṁsa decided to kill all the children born in these families, and he also decided that any child born from the womb of Devakī must be killed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tathāvery well
  2. itithus
  3. sutam ādāyataking back his child
  4. yayauleft that place
  5. ānakadundubhiḥVasudeva
  6. na abhyanandatadid not very much value
  7. tat-vākyamthe words (of Kaṁsa)
  8. asataḥwho was without character
  9. avijita-ātmanaḥand without self-control
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: “child”

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

Do I consider a person’s character and self-control when deciding whether to trust a promise?

Practice

Before relying on one promise today, consider whether the person’s past conduct supports it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrust Requires Character and Self-ControlThis 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 10.1.61? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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