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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
10.16.5410.16.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.55

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.16.54inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रतिलब्धेन्द्रियप्राण: कालिय: शनकैर्हरिम् ।

कृच्छ्रात् समुच्छ्वसन् दीन: कृष्णं प्राह कृताञ्जलि: ॥ ५५ ॥

pratilabdhendriya-prāṇaḥ

kāliyaḥ śanakair harim

kṛcchrāt samucchvasan dīnaḥ

kṛṣṇaṁ prāha kṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

Kāliya slowly regained his vital force and sensory functions. Then, breathing loudly and painfully, the poor serpent addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in humble submission.

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.

Approach Kṛṣṇa in Humble Submission

  1. 1

    Kāliya slowly regained his vital force and the functioning of his senses.

  2. 2

    Still breathing loudly and painfully, the poor serpent addressed Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Kāliya spoke in humble submission to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Satisfied by the Nāgapatnīs’ prayers, Kṛṣṇa released Kāliya, who slowly regained his sensory and vital powers. Then Kāliya, in a distressed voice, acknowledged the offense he had committed, and finally he offered Kṛṣṇa many prayers and said he was ready to accept His command.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pratilabdharegaining
  2. indriyathe function of his senses
  3. prāṇaḥand his vital force
  4. kāliyaḥKāliya
  5. śanakaiḥgradually
  6. harimto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. kṛcchrātwith difficulty
  8. samucchvasanbreathing loudly
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

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “humble”

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

What would humble submission look like in your prayers today?

Practice

Offer one short prayer to Kṛṣṇa in a mood of humble submission.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayApproach Kṛṣṇa in Humble SubmissionThis 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.

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