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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 10.16.29

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्याक्षिभिर्गरलमुद्वमत: शिर:सु

यद् यत् समुन्नमति नि:श्वसतो रुषोच्चै: ।

नृत्यन् पदानुनमयन् दमयां बभूव

पुष्पै: प्रपूजित इवेह पुमान् पुराण: ॥ २९ ॥

tasyākṣibhir garalam udvamataḥ śiraḥsu

yad yat samunnamati niḥśvasato ruṣoccaiḥ

nṛtyan padānunamayan damayāṁ babhūva

puṣpaiḥ prapūjita iveha pumān purāṇaḥ

Translation

Exuding poisonous waste from his eyes, Kāliya, would occasionally dare to raise up one of his heads, which would breathe heavily with anger. Then the Lord would dance on it and subdue it, forcing it to bow down with His foot. The demigods took each of these exhibitions as an opportunity to worship Him, the primeval Personality of Godhead, with showers of flowers.

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.

The Lord Subdues Renewed Defiance

  1. 1

    Kāliya continued to exude poisonous waste and occasionally raised a head, breathing heavily with anger.

  2. 2

    Each time, Kṛṣṇa danced upon that head and forced it to bow with His foot.

  3. 3

    The demigods treated each display as an opportunity to worship Kṛṣṇa, the primeval Personality of Godhead, with showers of flowers.

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 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Vomiting blood from his mouths, Kāliya finally understood that Kṛṣṇa was the primeval personality, Lord Nārāyaṇa, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving creatures, and he took shelter of Him. Seeing how very weary Kāliya had become, his wives, the Nāgapatnīs, bowed down at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof him
  2. akṣibhiḥfrom the eyes
  3. garalampoisonous waste
  4. udvamataḥwho was vomiting
  5. śiraḥsuamong the heads
  6. yat yatwhichever
  7. samunnamatiwould rise up
  8. niḥśvasataḥwho was breathing
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “worship”

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 can reading about Kṛṣṇa’s power become an opportunity for worship?

Practice

After reading this verse, offer Kṛṣṇa a brief prayer of praise.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Subdues Renewed DefianceThis 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 10.16.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.