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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 37: The Killing of the Demons Keśi and Vyoma
10.36.4010.37.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.37.1-2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.37.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

केशी तु कंसप्रहित: खुरैर्महीं

महाहयो निर्जरयन् मनोजव: ।

सटावधूताभ्रविमानसङ्कुलं

कुर्वन् नभो हेषितभीषिताखिल: ॥ १ ॥

तं त्रासयन्तं भगवान् स्वगोकुलं

तद्धेषितैर्वालविघूर्णिताम्बुदम् ।

आत्मानमाजौ मृगयन्तमग्रणी-

रुपाह्वयत् स व्यनदन्मृगेन्द्रवत् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

keśī tu kaṁsa-prahitaḥ khurair mahīṁ

mahā-hayo nirjarayan mano-javaḥ

saṭāvadhūtābhra-vimāna-saṅkulaṁ

kurvan nabho heṣita-bhīṣitākhilaḥ

taṁ trāsayantaṁ bhagavān sva-gokulaṁ

tad-dheṣitair vāla-vighūrṇitāmbudam

ātmānam ājau mṛgayantam agra-ṇīr

upāhvayat sa vyanadan mṛgendra-vat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The demon Keśī, sent by Kaṁsa, appeared in Vraja as a great horse. Running with the speed of the mind, he tore up the earth with his hooves. The hairs of his mane scattered the clouds and the demigods’ airplanes throughout the sky, and he terrified everyone present with his loud neighing.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Comes Forward to Protect His Village

  1. 1

    Sent by Kaṁsa, Keśī entered Vraja as a great horse. His hooves tore up the earth, and his loud neighing terrified everyone.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead saw how the demon was frightening His village of Gokula. He came forward to meet him.

  3. 3

    Keśī was searching for Kṛṣṇa to fight. When the Lord challenged him to approach, the horse roared like a lion.

Key points from the purport
  • **When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw how the demon was frightening His village of Gokula by neighing terribly and shaking the clouds with his tail, the Lord came forward to meet him.
  • Keśī was searching for Kṛṣṇa to fight, so when the Lord stood before him and challenged him to approach, the horse responded by roaring like a lion.**

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

Attachment → Impending loss. The approach of departure gives pastoral love a poignant edge.

Chapters 34–38 of Canto 10: Further Vraja events and Akrūra's arrival. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 37: The Killing of the Demons Keśi and Vyoma

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As he approached, his loud neighing terrified all the inhabitants, and they began looking for Śrī Kṛṣṇa. When He saw the demon, Kṛṣṇa came forward and challenged him to come near.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.37
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. keśīthe demon named Keśī
  3. tuand then
  4. kaṁsa-prahitaḥsent by Kaṁsa
  5. khuraiḥwith his hooves
  6. mahīmthe earth
  7. mahā-hayaḥa huge horse
  8. nirjarayanripping apart
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

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 helps you remember that Kṛṣṇa comes forward when His people are frightened?

Practice

Read the Lord’s response to the frightened village again, and offer Him a brief prayer of trust.

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 10.37's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Comes Forward to Protect His VillageThis 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 10.37.1-2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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