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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

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 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

10.3.21 10.3.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.22

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Vasudevasince 10.3.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अयं त्वसभ्यस्तव जन्म नौ गृहे

श्रुत्वाग्रजांस्ते न्यवधीत् सुरेश्वर ।

स तेऽवतारं पुरुषै: समर्पितं

श्रुत्वाधुनैवाभिसरत्युदायुध: ॥ २२ ॥

ayaṁ tv asabhyas tava janma nau gṛhe

śrutvāgrajāṁs te nyavadhīt sureśvara

sa te ’vatāraṁ puruṣaiḥ samarpitaṁ

śrutvādhunaivābhisaraty udāyudhaḥ

Translation

O my Lord, Lord of the demigods, after hearing the prophecy that You would take birth in our home and kill him, this uncivilized Kaṁsa killed so many of Your elder brothers. As soon as he hears from his lieutenants that You have appeared, he will immediately come with weapons to kill You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mercy and Devotion Amid Opposition

1
Kaṁsa is called uncivilized because he killed his sister’s children. The purport contrasts merciless sense gratification with the protection owed to cows, women, children, old men and brāhmaṇas.
2
The duty of the mahātmās is to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and spread it to the best of their ability. Opposition does not remove this devotional duty.
3
Although Kṛṣṇa cannot be killed, Vasudeva trembled out of affection for his son. Similarly, devotees may fear opposition even though the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not different from Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport

Unfortunately, society is in such an uncivilized state that there are so-called mahātmās who are prepared to kill cows and children and stop the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.
As Kaṁsa was not expected to kill the beautiful child of Devakī and Vasudeva, the uncivilized society, although unhappy about the advancement of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, cannot be expected to stop it.
Although Kṛṣṇa cannot be killed, Vasudeva, as the father of Kṛṣṇa, was trembling because in affection he thought that Kaṁsa would immediately come and kill his son.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.5.34

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.3.22, 29) both Vasudeva and Devakī express their fear at the threat of Kaṁsa, who had already killed all of Kṛṣṇa’s elder brothers.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because they were afraid of Kaṁsa, when the Lord appeared as an ordinary child they took Him to Gokula, the home of Nanda Mahārāja. Mother Devakī, being fully transcendental, sac-cid-ānanda, does not belong to this material world.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.3

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

ayamthis (rascal)
tubut
asabhyaḥwho is not civilized at all ( asura means “uncivilized,” and sura means “civilized”)
tavaof Your Lordship
janmathe birth
nauour
gṛheinto the home
śrutvāafter hearing

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.3
In this verse: “hearing”, “chant”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.3
In this verse: “devotional”, “devotees”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.3
In this verse: “children”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I continue my devotional practice with both mercy and steadiness when difficulties arise?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, even if your day is difficult.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy and Devotion Amid OppositionThis 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 10.3.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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