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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.67

Who is speaking and story frame

मातरं पितरं भ्रातृन् सर्वांश्च सुहृदस्तथा । घ्नन्ति ह्यसुतृपो लुब्धा राजान: प्रायशो भुवि ॥ ६७ ॥

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ bhrātṝn

sarvāṁś ca suhṛdas tathā

ghnanti hy asutṛpo lubdhā

rājānaḥ prāyaśo bhuvi

Translation

Kings greedy for sense gratification on this earth almost always kill their enemies indiscriminately. To satisfy their own whims, they may kill anyone, even their mothers, fathers, brothers or friends.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understanding Kṛṣṇa Makes Life Successful

  1. 1

    Kings greedy for sense gratification may kill even their own relatives and friends to satisfy their whims. Kaṁsa did not hesitate to kill his nephews and imprison his sister and father.

  2. 2

    Although Kaṁsa regarded Kṛṣṇa as an enemy, he knew that Kṛṣṇa could not be killed. Even this partial understanding made him eligible for salvation.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda says that everyone has a duty to read Bhagavad-gītā and understand Kṛṣṇa perfectly. Such understanding makes one’s life successful.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaṁsa did not hesitate to kill his nephews and imprison his sister and his father.
  • Nonetheless, although Kaṁsa was a demon, he was aware that Lord Viṣṇu cannot be killed, and thus he attained salvation.
  • Kaṁsa knew a little about Kṛṣṇa — that He could not be killed — and therefore he attained salvation although he thought of Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa, as an enemy.

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:

Chapters Twenty-nine through Thirty-three describe Kṛṣṇa’s dancing with the gopīs, known as the rāsa-līlā. Therefore these five chapters are known as rāsa-pañcādhyāya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mātaramunto the mother
  2. pitaramunto the father
  3. bhrātṝnunto brothers
  4. sarvān caand anyone else
  5. suhṛdaḥfriends
  6. tathāas well as
  7. ghnantithey kill (as it is practically seen)
  8. hiindeed
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mothers”, “fathers”, “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “friends”

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 much importance do I give to understanding Kṛṣṇa through Bhagavad-gītā?

Practice

Read a short passage from Bhagavad-gītā today and write down one thing it teaches you about Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstanding Kṛṣṇa Makes Life SuccessfulThis 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 10.1.67? Get an answer from the verses themselves.