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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya
10.16.5010.16.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.51

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The wives of the Kāliya serpentsince 10.16.33inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अपराध: सकृद् भर्त्रा सोढव्य: स्वप्रजाकृत: ।

क्षन्तुमर्हसि शान्तात्मन् मूढस्य त्वामजानत: ॥ ५१ ॥

aparādhaḥ sakṛd bhartrā

soḍhavyaḥ sva-prajā-kṛtaḥ

kṣantum arhasi śāntātman

mūḍhasya tvām ajānataḥ

Translation

At least once, a master should tolerate an offense committed by his child or subject. O supreme peaceful Soul, You should therefore forgive our foolish husband, who did not understand who You are.

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.

Appeal Humbly for the Lord’s Forgiveness

  1. 1

    In their extreme anxiety, Kāliya’s wives repeat their plea that the Supreme Lord forgive their foolish husband.

  2. 2

    They address the Lord as the supreme peaceful Soul. They appeal to a master’s willingness to tolerate an offense by his child or subject at least once.

  3. 3

    Kāliya’s great offense arose from ignorance of the Lord. His wives ask the Lord to overlook it this once.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of their extreme anxiety, in this verse Kāliya’s wives mention the same idea twice: that the Supreme Lord should kindly forgive their foolish husband.
  • The Supreme Lord is śāntātmā, the supreme peaceful Soul, and therefore the Nāgapatnīs suggest it would be proper for Him to overlook, at least this once, the great offense committed by the ignorant Kāliya.

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 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Please kindly forgive the offense Kāliya has committed out of ignorance, and allow him to live.” Satisfied by the Nāgapatnīs’ prayers, Kṛṣṇa released Kāliya, who slowly regained his sensory and vital powers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aparādhaḥthe offense
  2. sakṛtjust once
  3. bhartrāby the master
  4. soḍhavyaḥshould be tolerated
  5. sva-prajāby his own subject
  6. kṛtaḥcommitted
  7. kṣantumto tolerate
  8. arhasiit is befitting for You
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “offense”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “child”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Can I acknowledge wrongdoing honestly while still asking humbly for mercy?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking the Lord to forgive an offense you recognize in your own conduct.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAppeal Humbly for the Lord’s ForgivenessThis 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 10.16.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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