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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
10.15.2810.15.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.29

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

फलानां पततां शब्दं निशम्यासुररासभ: ।

अभ्यधावत् क्षितितलं सनगं परिकम्पयन् ॥ २९ ॥

phalānāṁ patatāṁ śabdaṁ

niśamyāsura-rāsabhaḥ

abhyadhāvat kṣiti-talaṁ

sa-nagaṁ parikampayan

Translation

Hearing the sound of the falling fruits, the ass demon Dhenuka ran forward to attack, making the earth and trees tremble.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

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.

Dhenuka Rushes Forward to Attack

  1. 1

    Dhenuka hears the sound of the falling fruits.

  2. 2

    The demon in the form of an ass runs forward to attack.

  3. 3

    His advance makes both the earth and the trees tremble.

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:

Arriving at the Tālavana, Lord Balarāma shook many fruits out of the palm trees, and as soon as He did so the jackass demon, Dhenuka, ran swiftly to attack Him. But Balarāma grabbed his hind legs with one hand, whirled him around and threw him into the top of a tree, thus slaying him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. phalānāmof the fruits
  2. patatāmwhich are falling
  3. śabdamthe sound
  4. niśamyahearing
  5. asura-rāsabhaḥthe demon in the form of a jackass
  6. abhyadhāvatran forward
  7. kṣiti-talamthe surface of the earth
  8. sa-nagamtogether with the trees
  9. parikampayanmaking tremble
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 trembling of the earth and trees convey the force of Dhenuka’s approach?

Practice

Reread the verse and recall its sequence: the falling fruits, their sound and Dhenuka’s advance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDhenuka Rushes Forward to AttackThis 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 10.15.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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