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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 39: Akrūra’s Vision
10.39.410.39.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.39.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.39.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

किं नु न: कुशलं पृच्छे एधमाने कुलामये ।

कंसे मातुलनाम्नाङ्ग स्वानां नस्तत्प्रजासु च ॥ ५ ॥

kiṁ nu naḥ kuśalaṁ pṛcche

edhamāne kulāmaye

kaṁse mātula-nāmnāṅga

svānāṁ nas tat-prajāsu ca

Translation

But, my dear Akrūra, as long as King Kaṁsa — that disease of our family who goes by the name “maternal uncle” — is still prospering, why should I even bother to ask about the well-being of our family members and his other subjects?

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.

Kaṁsa’s Prosperity Threatens Others’ Well-Being

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa called Kaṁsa a disease of their family, despite his title of maternal uncle.

  2. 2

    As long as Kaṁsa prospered, the well-being of their family remained in doubt.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s concern extended beyond His relatives to Kaṁsa’s other subjects.

How it feels

Anxiety and conflict → Liberation and joy. Heroic victory is complicated by separation from Vraja.

Chapters 39–45 of Canto 10: Mathurā, Kaṁsa and reunion with parents. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 39: Akrūra’s Vision

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Lord also inquired about how Kaṁsa was behaving toward their family members, and finally He asked why Akrūra had come. Akrūra described how Kaṁsa had been persecuting the Yādavas, what Nārada had told Kaṁsa and how Kaṁsa had been treating Vasudeva cruelly.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.39
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat
  2. nurather
  3. naḥour
  4. kuśalamabout the well-being
  5. pṛccheI should inquire
  6. edhamānewhen he is prospering
  7. kulaof our family
  8. āmayethe disease
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.39

    In this verse: “king”

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

Do I consider how someone’s harmful conduct affects people beyond their own family?

Practice

Reflect briefly on the contrast in this verse between Kaṁsa’s prosperity and his subjects’ well-being.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKaṁsa’s Prosperity Threatens Others’ Well-BeingThis 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 10.39.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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