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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 10.1.68

Who is speaking and story frame

आत्मानमिह सञ्जातं जानन्प्राग् विष्णुना हतम् । महासुरं कालनेमिं यदुभि: स व्यरुध्यत ॥ ६८ ॥

ātmānam iha sañjātaṁ

jānan prāg viṣṇunā hatam

mahāsuraṁ kālanemiṁ

yadubhiḥ sa vyarudhyata

Translation

In his previous birth, Kaṁsa had been a great demon named Kālanemi and been killed by Viṣṇu. Upon learning this information from Nārada, Kaṁsa became envious of everyone connected with the Yadu dynasty.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Enmity Toward the Lord Leads Downward

  1. 1

    In his previous birth, Kaṁsa had been the great demon Kālanemi, whom Viṣṇu killed. Nārada informed Kaṁsa of this.

  2. 2

    After learning this, Kaṁsa became envious of everyone connected with the Yadu dynasty. His hostility extended to those associated with the Lord.

  3. 3

    Enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are called asuras. Because of their enmity toward Him, they take birth repeatedly in asura families and descend to the darkest hellish regions.

Key points from the purport
  • Persons who are demons, enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are called asuras.
  • As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the asuras, because of their enmity toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, take birth after birth in asura families and therefore glide down to the darkest hellish regions.

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:

Nārada had also informed Kaṁsa that in his previous birth Kaṁsa was Kālanemi, a demon killed by Viṣṇu. Consequently, Kaṁsa became a great enemy to all the descendants of the yadu-vaṁśa, the Yadu dynasty.
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. ātmānampersonally
  2. ihain this world
  3. sañjātamborn again
  4. jānanunderstanding well
  5. prākpreviously, before this birth
  6. viṣṇunāby Lord Viṣṇu
  7. hatamwas killed
  8. mahā-asurama great demon
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

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 Kaṁsa’s reaction teach me about allowing envy to grow?

Practice

Notice one envious thought today and pause rather than speaking or acting on it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEnmity Toward the Lord Leads DownwardThis 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 10.1.68? Get an answer from the verses themselves.