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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 18: Lord Balarāma Slays the Demon Pralamba
10.18.2210.18.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.18.23

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

रामसङ्घट्टिनो यर्हि श्रीदामवृषभादय: ।

क्रीडायां जयिनस्तांस्तानूहु: कृष्णादयो नृप ॥ २३ ॥

rāma-saṅghaṭṭino yarhi

śrīdāma-vṛṣabhādayaḥ

krīḍāyāṁ jayinas tāṁs tān

ūhuḥ kṛṣṇādayo nṛpa

Translation

My dear King Parīkṣit, when Śrīdāmā, Vṛṣabha and the other members of Lord Balarāma’s party were victorious in these games, Kṛṣṇa and His followers had to carry them.

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 Carries the Victorious Boys

  1. 1

    Śrīdāmā, Vṛṣabha and the other members of Lord Balarāma’s party won the games.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa and His followers carried the victorious boys.

  3. 3

    The verse presents Kṛṣṇa taking the carrier’s role in the boys’ shared play.

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:

Thus when Śrīdāmā and Vṛṣabha, members of Balarāma’s party, were victorious, Kṛṣṇa and another boy in His party carried them on their shoulders. Pralambāsura thought that the unconquerable Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa would be too great an opponent to contend with, so the demon fought with Balarāma instead and was defeated.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rāma-saṅghaṭṭinaḥthe members of Lord Balarāma’s party
  2. yarhiwhen
  3. śrīdāma-vṛṣabha-ādayaḥŚrīdāmā, Vṛṣabha and others (such as Subala)
  4. krīḍāyāmin the games
  5. jayinaḥvictorious
  6. tān tāneach of them
  7. ūhuḥcarried
  8. kṛṣṇa-ādayaḥKṛṣṇa and the members of His party
  9. nṛpaO 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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.18

    In this verse: “king”

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 do I notice about Kṛṣṇa’s willingness to carry the winners?

Practice

Read the verse slowly and picture Kṛṣṇa carrying one of the victorious boys.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Carries the Victorious BoysThis 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 10.18.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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