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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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
10.15.2310.15.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd boyssince 10.15.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्मात् कृतनराहाराद् भीतैर्नृभिरमित्रहन् ।

न सेव्यते पशुगणै: पक्षिसङ्घैर्विवर्जितम् ॥ २४ ॥

tasmāt kṛta-narāhārād

bhītair nṛbhir amitra-han

na sevyate paśu-gaṇaiḥ

pakṣi-saṅghair vivarjitam

Translation

The demon Dhenuka has eaten men alive, and therefore all people and animals are terrified of going to the Tāla forest. O killer of the enemy, even the birds are afraid to fly there.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Faith in the Supreme Lord’s Potency

  1. 1

    Dhenuka has eaten people alive, so people, animals and even birds fear the Tāla forest.

  2. 2

    The cowherd boys meditate with ecstasy on the potency of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Having seen Him kill terrible demons, they are confident He can defeat Dhenuka.

  3. 3

    They ask Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to kill the demons so that all the pious inhabitants of Vṛndāvana can enjoy the forest’s fruits.

Key points from the purport
  • The cowherd boyfriends of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma encouraged the two brothers to go at once to the Tāla forest and kill the ass demon.
  • The cowherd boys were engaged in ecstatic meditation upon the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and reasoned thus: “Kṛṣṇa has already killed terrible demons like Baka and Agha, so what is so special about this obnoxious jackass named Dhenuka, who has become public enemy number one in Vṛndāvana?”
  • The cowherd boys wanted Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to kill the demons so that all the pious inhabitants of Vṛndāvana could enjoy the fruits in the Tāla forest.

The purport'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

Peril and pride → Friendship and humility. Divinity is revealed amid intimate childhood play.

Chapters 12–19 of Canto 10: Childhood dangers and Brahmā's amazement. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

During this play, Śrīdāmā, Subala, Stoka-kṛṣṇa and other cowherd boys described to Rāma and Kṛṣṇa a wicked and irrepressible demon named Dhenuka, who had assumed the form of a jackass and was living in the Tālavana forest near Govardhana Hill. This forest was full of many varieties of sweet fruits.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmātof him
  2. kṛta-nara-āhārātwho has eaten human beings
  3. bhītaiḥwho are afraid
  4. nṛbhiḥby the human beings
  5. amitra-hanO killer of enemies
  6. na sevyateis not resorted to
  7. paśu-gaṇaiḥby the various animals
  8. pakṣi-saṅghaiḥby the flocks of birds
  9. vivarjitamabandoned
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 10.15

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “ecstasy”

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 does the boys’ request show concern for others as well as faith in the Lord?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering the Supreme Lord’s potency, as the cowherd boys do.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFaith in the Supreme Lord’s PotencyThis 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 10.15.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.