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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
10.16.710.16.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.8

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

तस्य ह्रदे विहरतो भुजदण्डघूर्ण-

वार्घोषमङ्ग वरवारणविक्रमस्य ।

आश्रुत्य तत् स्वसदनाभिभवं निरीक्ष्य

चक्षु:श्रवा: समसरत्तदमृष्यमाण: ॥ ८ ॥

tasya hrade viharato bhuja-daṇḍa-ghūrṇa-

vār-ghoṣam aṅga vara-vāraṇa-vikramasya

āśrutya tat sva-sadanābhibhavaṁ nirīkṣya

cakṣuḥ-śravāḥ samasarat tad amṛṣyamāṇaḥ

Translation

Kṛṣṇa began sporting in Kāliya’s lake like a lordly elephant — swirling His mighty arms and making the water resound in various ways. When Kāliya heard these sounds, he understood that someone was trespassing in his lake. The serpent could not tolerate this and immediately came forward.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Plays While Kāliya Becomes Angry

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa sported in the lake like a lordly elephant, swirling His mighty arms and making the water resound.

  2. 2

    The ācāryas explain that He produced wonderful musical sounds simply by splashing His hands and arms.

  3. 3

    Kāliya heard the sounds and considered someone to be trespassing in his lake. Unable to tolerate this, he immediately came forward.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the ācāryas, Lord Kṛṣṇa was producing wonderful musical sounds within the water simply by splashing His hands and arms.

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:

Kāliya could not tolerate Kṛṣṇa’s trespassing upon his personal residence, and the serpent quickly went up to the Lord and bit Him on the chest. When Kṛṣṇa’s friends saw this, they fell down on the ground unconscious.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof Him
  2. hradein his lake
  3. viharataḥwho was playing
  4. bhuja-daṇḍaby His mighty arms
  5. ghūrṇaswirled about
  6. vāḥof the water
  7. ghoṣamthe resounding
  8. aṅgamy dear King
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “heard”

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 contrast do you notice between Kṛṣṇa’s play and Kāliya’s response?

Practice

Spend a minute recalling Kṛṣṇa making wonderful musical sounds in the water.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Plays While Kāliya Becomes AngryThis 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 10.16.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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