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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
10.16.810.16.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.9

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

तं प्रेक्षणीयसुकुमारघनावदातं

श्रीवत्सपीतवसनं स्मितसुन्दरास्यम् ।

क्रीडन्तमप्रतिभयं कमलोदराङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रि

सन्दश्य मर्मसु रुषा भुजया चछाद ॥ ९ ॥

taṁ prekṣaṇīya-sukumāra-ghanāvadātaṁ

śrīvatsa-pīta-vasanaṁ smita-sundarāsyam

krīḍantam apratibhayaṁ kamalodarāṅghriṁ

sandaśya marmasu ruṣā bhujayā cachāda

Translation

Kāliya saw that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who wore yellow silken garments, was very delicate, His attractive body shining like a glowing white cloud, His chest bearing the mark of Śrīvatsa, His face smiling beautifully and His feet resembling the whorl of a lotus flower. The Lord was playing fearlessly in the water. Despite His wonderful appearance, the envious Kāliya furiously bit Him on the chest and then completely enwrapped Him in his coils.

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.

Kṛṣṇa’s Beauty Meets Kāliya’s Envy

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa wore yellow silken garments, and His delicate, attractive body shone like a glowing white cloud. His chest bore the mark of Śrīvatsa.

  2. 2

    His face smiled beautifully, and His feet resembled the whorl of a lotus flower. He played fearlessly in the water.

  3. 3

    Despite seeing the Lord’s wonderful appearance, the envious Kāliya furiously bit His chest and completely wrapped Him in his coils.

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 He began fearlessly playing within the water like a maddened elephant. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. prekṣaṇīyaattractive to look at
  3. su-kumāramost delicate
  4. ghanalike a cloud
  5. avadātamglowing white
  6. śrīvatsawearing the Śrīvatsa mark
  7. pītaand yellow
  8. vasanamgarments
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: “fearlessly”

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

Which feature of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance would you like to remember today?

Practice

Choose one feature described in this verse and quietly remember it for a minute.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Beauty Meets Kāliya’s EnvyThis 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 10.16.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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