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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 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya
10.16.5710.16.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.58

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The serpent Kāliyasince 10.16.56inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वयं च तत्र भगवन् सर्पा जात्युरुमन्यव: ।

कथं त्यजामस्त्वन्मायां दुस्त्यजां मोहिता: स्वयम् ॥ ५८ ॥

vayaṁ ca tatra bhagavan

sarpā jāty-uru-manyavaḥ

kathaṁ tyajāmas tvan-māyāṁ

dustyajāṁ mohitāḥ svayam

Translation

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, among all the species within Your material creation, we serpents are by nature always enraged. Being thus deluded by Your illusory energy, which is very difficult to give up, how can we possibly give it up on our own?

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.

Freedom Requires the Lord’s Mercy

  1. 1

    Kāliya admitted that serpents are by nature absorbed in anger and deluded by the Lord’s illusory energy.

  2. 2

    He indirectly begged for mercy, realizing that he could never free himself from illusion and suffering on his own.

  3. 3

    Only by surrendering to the Lord and obtaining His mercy can one be released from the painful conditions of material life.

Key points from the purport
  • Kāliya is here indirectly begging for the Lord’s mercy, realizing that on his own he can never become free from illusion and suffering.
  • Only by surrendering to the Lord and obtaining His mercy can one be released from the painful conditions of material life.

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:

Today he has borne upon his head the dust of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, the attainment of which is difficult for even the mother of the universe, the goddess Lakṣmī. Please kindly forgive the offense Kāliya has committed out of ignorance, and allow him to live.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vayamwe
  2. caand
  3. tatrawithin that material creation
  4. bhagavanO Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. sarpāḥserpents
  6. jātiby species
  7. uru-manyavaḥtoo much absorbed in anger
  8. kathamhow
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “material”, “illusion”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Where do you need to acknowledge your dependence on the Lord’s mercy?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking the Supreme Personality of Godhead for mercy and help in surrendering to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFreedom Requires the Lord’s MercyThis 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 10.16.58? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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