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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 26: Wonderful Kṛṣṇa
10.26.1110.26.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.26.12

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cowherd mensince 10.26.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आशीविषतमाहीन्द्रं दमित्वा विमदं ह्रदात् । प्रसह्योद्वास्य यमुनां चक्रेऽसौ निर्विषोदकाम् ॥ १२ ॥

āśī-viṣatamāhīndraṁ

damitvā vimadaṁ hradāt

prasahyodvāsya yamunāṁ

cakre ’sau nirviṣodakām

Translation

Kṛṣṇa chastised the most poisonous serpent, Kāliya, and after humbling him He drove him forcibly from the lake of the Yamunā. In this way the Lord made the water of that river free of the snake’s powerful poison.

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 Humbles Kāliya and Purifies the Yamunā

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa chastised Kāliya, the most poisonous serpent, and humbled him.

  2. 2

    The Lord forcibly drove Kāliya from the lake of the Yamunā.

  3. 3

    By removing Kāliya, Kṛṣṇa freed the river’s water from the snake’s powerful poison.

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 26: Wonderful Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because He descended as the son of Vasudeva, one of His many names is Vāsudeva, and He has innumerable other names indicating His many qualities and activities. Garga Muni had predicted that Kṛṣṇa would prevent all sorts of catastrophes in Gokula, spread unlimited auspiciousness, and increase the ecstasy of the cowherd men and women.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āśīof his fangs
  2. viṣa-tamahaving the most powerful poison
  3. ahiof the snakes
  4. indramthe chief
  5. damitvāsubduing
  6. vimadamwhose pride was removed
  7. hradātfrom the lake
  8. prasahyaby force
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.26

    In this verse: “humbled”

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

How does this account help you appreciate the Lord’s power to remove danger?

Practice

Recall the three actions described here: Kṛṣṇa humbled Kāliya, drove him away, and freed the water from poison.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.26's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Humbles Kāliya and Purifies the YamunāThis 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 10.26.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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