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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.25.6

Who is speaking and story frame

एषां श्रियावलिप्तानां कृष्णेनाध्मापितात्मनाम् । धुनुत श्रीमदस्तम्भं पशून् नयत सङ्‌क्षयम् ॥ ६ ॥

eṣāṁ śriyāvaliptānāṁ

kṛṣṇenādhmāpitātmanām

dhunuta śrī-mada-stambhaṁ

paśūn nayata saṅkṣayam

Translation

[To the clouds of destruction King Indra said:] The prosperity of these people has made them mad with pride, and their arrogance is backed up by Kṛṣṇa. Now go and remove their pride and bring their animals to destruction.

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.

Cow Protection and True Prosperity

  1. 1

    Indra ordered the clouds to destroy the animals, intending to break the residents’ supposed pride in their wealth.

  2. 2

    The residents of Vṛndāvana had become prosperous simply by protecting cows. Well-tended cows supplied nourishing dairy foods, and the surplus could be traded.

  3. 3

    They were wealthy, healthy and happy even materially. Most importantly, they were eternal associates of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • It is clear from this verse that the residents of Vṛndāvana had become highly prosperous simply by protecting cows, since Indra wanted to destroy their so-called pride based on wealth by killing their animals.
  • Bread and vegetables are delicious with butter, and fruit is especially appetizing when mixed with cream or yogurt.
  • Thus, simply by a Vedic dairy enterprise, the residents of Vṛndāvana were wealthy, healthy and happy, even in the material sense, and most of all they were eternal associates of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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

Attraction and threat → Joy and trust. The pastoral world becomes the setting for protection and love.

Chapters 20–28 of Canto 10: Forest seasons, flute and Govardhana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

To remove this supposed pride of the residents of Vraja, Indra sent the clouds known as Sāṁvartaka, whose function is to facilitate the destruction of the world. He sent them to harass the Vrajavāsīs with downpours of rain and hail.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣāmof them
  2. śriyāby their opulences
  3. avaliptānāmwho are intoxicated
  4. kṛṣṇenaby Kṛṣṇa
  5. ādhmāpitafortified
  6. ātmanāmwhose hearts
  7. dhunutaremove
  8. śrībased on their wealth
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “pride”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “wealth”, “materially”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value a relationship with Kṛṣṇa more than material prosperity?

Practice

Write down one way cow protection supported Vṛndāvana, and then note what made the residents most fortunate.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCow Protection and True ProsperityThis 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 10.25.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.