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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 15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
10.15.3010.15.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.15.31

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

पुनरासाद्य संरब्ध उपक्रोष्टा पराक् स्थित: ।

चरणावपरौ राजन् बलाय प्राक्षिपद् रुषा ॥ ३१ ॥

punar āsādya saṁrabdha

upakroṣṭā parāk sthitaḥ

caraṇāv aparau rājan

balāya prākṣipad ruṣā

Translation

Moving again toward Lord Balarāma, O King, the furious ass situated himself with his back toward the Lord. Then, screaming in rage, the demon hurled his two hind legs at Him.

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.

Dhenuka Attacks Again in Rage

  1. 1

    The furious Dhenuka approaches Lord Balarāma again and turns his back toward Him.

  2. 2

    Screaming in rage, he hurls his two hind legs at the Lord.

  3. 3

    The word upakroṣṭā means both an ass and one crying out nearby. It indicates the horrible, angry sounds made by the powerful Dhenuka.

Key points from the purport
  • The word upakroṣṭā indicates an ass and also one who is crying out nearby.
  • Thus it is indicated herein that the powerful Dhenuka made horrible, angry sounds.

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:

But Balarāma grabbed his hind legs with one hand, whirled him around and threw him into the top of a tree, thus slaying him. All of Dhenukāsura’s friends, overcome by fury, then rushed to attack, but Rāma and Kṛṣṇa took hold of them one by one, swung them around and killed them, until the disturbance was finally finished.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. punaḥagain
  2. āsādyaapproaching Him
  3. saṁrabdhaḥfurious
  4. upakroṣṭāthe ass
  5. parākwith his back toward the Lord
  6. sthitaḥstanding
  7. caraṇautwo legs
  8. aparauhind
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.15

    In this verse: “crying”

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 do Dhenuka’s sounds and movements together express his rage?

Practice

Read the verse aloud once, noticing how its description of sound reinforces the description of anger.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDhenuka Attacks Again in RageThis 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 10.15.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.