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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya
10.16.6110.16.63

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.62

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.16.60inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

योऽस्मिन् स्‍नात्वा मदाक्रीडे देवादींस्तर्पयेज्जलै: ।

उपोष्य मां स्मरन्नर्चेत् सर्वपापै: प्रमुच्यते ॥ ६२ ॥

yo ’smin snātvā mad-ākrīḍe

devādīṁs tarpayej jalaiḥ

upoṣya māṁ smarann arcet

sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

If one bathes in this place of My pastimes and offers the water of this lake to the demigods and other worshipable personalities, or if one observes a fast and duly worships and remembers Me, he is sure to become free from all sinful reactions.

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.

A Holy Place for Worship

  1. 1

    The Lord declared that bathing at His pastime place and offering its water to worshipable personalities frees one from sinful reactions. He also described fasting, duly worshiping Him and remembering Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord had mercifully pardoned Kāliya, but the serpent could by no means remain in the lake.

  3. 3

    The lake was now to become a holy place for spiritual pilgrims, so Kāliya should not even request to stay.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the ācāryas, the Lord spoke this verse to make it clear to Kāliya that he could by no means remain in the Yamunā lake.
  • Although the Lord had mercifully pardoned the serpent and ordered him to go to the ocean with all his associates, Kāliya should not even consider requesting to remain in the lake, because it was now to become a holy place for spiritual pilgrims.

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:

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. Kṛṣṇa told him to leave the Yamunā lake with his family and return to Ramaṇaka Island.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥwho
  2. asminin this (Kāliya’s lake in the Yamunā River)
  3. snātvābathing
  4. mat-ākrīḍethe place of My pastime
  5. deva-ādīnthe demigods and other worshipable personalities
  6. tarpayetgratifies
  7. jalaiḥwith the water (of that lake)
  8. upoṣyaobserving a fast
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 you give more attentive remembrance to the Lord during worship?

Practice

Set aside a quiet minute during worship today to remember the Lord and this place of His pastimes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Holy Place for WorshipThis 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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