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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

10.18.24 10.18.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.18.25

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

अविषह्यं मन्यमान: कृष्णं दानवपुङ्गव: ।

वहन् द्रुततरं प्रागादवरोहणत: परम् ॥ २५ ॥

aviṣahyaṁ manyamānaḥ

kṛṣṇaṁ dānava-puṅgavaḥ

vahan drutataraṁ prāgād

avarohaṇataḥ param

Translation

Considering Lord Kṛṣṇa invincible, that foremost demon [Pralamba] quickly carried Balarāma far beyond the spot where he was supposed to put his passenger down.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pralamba’s Hidden Intention

1
Pralamba considered Lord Kṛṣṇa invincible.
2
He quickly carried Balarāma beyond the place where he was supposed to set Him down.
3
Pralamba wanted to take Balarāma out of Kṛṣṇa’s sight so that he could cruelly attack Him.

Key points from the purport

Pralamba wanted to carry Balarāma out of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s sight so that he could cruelly attack Him.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.18