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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
10.16.610.16.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.16.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सर्पह्रद: पुरुषसारनिपातवेग-

सङ्‌क्षोभितोरगविषोच्छ्वसिताम्बुराशि: ।

पर्यक्‍प्लुतो विषकषायबिभीषणोर्मि-

र्धावन् धनु:शतमनन्तबलस्य किं तत् ॥ ७ ॥

sarpa-hradaḥ puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega-

saṅkṣobhitoraga-viṣocchvasitāmbu-rāśiḥ

paryak pluto viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇormir

dhāvan dhanuḥ-śatam ananta-balasya kiṁ tat

Translation

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead landed in the serpent’s lake, the snakes there became extremely agitated and began breathing heavily, further polluting it with volumes of poison. The force of the Lord’s entrance into the lake caused it to overflow on all sides, and poisonous, fearsome waves flooded the surrounding lands up to a distance of one hundred bow-lengths. This is not at all amazing, however, for the Supreme Lord possesses infinite strength.

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 Supreme Lord Possesses Infinite Strength

  1. 1

    When the Supreme Personality of Godhead entered the lake, the snakes became extremely agitated. Their heavy breathing released still more poison.

  2. 2

    The force of His entrance made the lake overflow on all sides. Fearsome, poisonous waves flooded the land for one hundred bow-lengths.

  3. 3

    The translation explains that this is not amazing for the Supreme Lord, whose strength is infinite.

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:

To restore the purity of the Yamunā’s waters, which had been contaminated by Kāliya’s poison, Lord Kṛṣṇa climbed into a kadamba tree on the riverbank and jumped into the water. Then He began fearlessly playing within the water like a maddened elephant.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarpa-hradaḥthe serpent’s lake
  2. puruṣa-sāraof the most exalted Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. nipāta-vegaby the force of the fall
  4. saṅkṣobhitacompletely agitated
  5. uragaof the snakes
  6. viṣa-ucchvasitabreathed upon with the poison
  7. ambu-rāśiḥall of whose water
  8. paryakon all sides
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “fearsome”

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 does remembering Kṛṣṇa’s infinite strength shape your understanding of this scene?

Practice

Pause for a moment today and recall the verse’s statement that the Supreme Lord possesses infinite strength.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Possesses Infinite StrengthThis 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 10.16.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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