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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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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 18: Lord Balarāma Slays the Demon Pralamba
10.18.1810.18.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.18.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत्रोपाहूय गोपालान् कृष्ण: प्राह विहारवित् ।

हे गोपा विहरिष्यामो द्वन्द्वीभूय यथायथम् ॥ १९ ॥

tatropāhūya gopālān

kṛṣṇaḥ prāha vihāra-vit

he gopā vihariṣyāmo

dvandvī-bhūya yathā-yatham

Translation

Kṛṣṇa, who knows all sports and games, then called together the cowherd boys and spoke as follows: “Hey cowherd boys! Let’s play now! We’ll divide ourselves into two even teams.”

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 Arranges an Evenly Matched Game

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa knows all sports and games. He called the cowherd boys together and invited them to play.

  2. 2

    He wanted two evenly matched teams so that there would be a good game.

  3. 3

    Besides the pleasure of sporting, the game had another purpose: to kill the demon Pralamba.

Key points from the purport
  • The word yathā-yatham means that Kṛṣṇa naturally wanted the two teams to be evenly matched so that there would be a good game.
  • In addition to the pleasure of sporting, the purpose of the game was to kill the demon Pralamba.

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 18: Lord Balarāma Slays the Demon Pralamba

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

At that time Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa would become absorbed in various sports, surrounded by Balarāma and all the cowherd boys. One day they were intently dancing, singing and playing when a demon named Pralamba entered their midst, disguised as a cowherd boy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathereupon
  2. upāhūyacalling
  3. gopālānthe cowherd boys
  4. kṛṣṇaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  5. prāhaspoke
  6. vihāra-vitthe knower of all sports and games
  7. he gopāḥO cowherd boys
  8. vihariṣyāmaḥlet us play
  9. dvandvī-bhūyadividing into two groups
  10. yathā-yathamsuitably
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.18

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

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 does this verse show you about the purpose within Kṛṣṇa’s play?

Practice

Write down the two purposes of the game given in the purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Arranges an Evenly Matched GameThis 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 10.18.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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