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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 4: The Atrocities of King Kaṁsa
10.4.1310.4.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.4.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.4.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तयाभिहितमाकर्ण्य कंस: परमविस्मित: ।

देवकीं वसुदेवं च विमुच्य प्रश्रितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥

tayābhihitam ākarṇya

kaṁsaḥ parama-vismitaḥ

devakīṁ vasudevaṁ ca

vimucya praśrito ’bravīt

Translation

After hearing the words of the goddess Durgā, Kaṁsa was struck with wonder. Thus he approached his sister Devakī and brother-in-law Vasudeva, released them immediately from their shackles, and very humbly spoke as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Wonder Opens the Way to Humility

  1. 1

    Kaṁsa was astonished that Durgā had appeared as Devakī’s daughter and that the eighth child was female.

  2. 2

    Seeing Durgā’s eight-armed form changed his view of Devakī as an ordinary human being. He thought she must possess transcendental qualities.

  3. 3

    Kaṁsa immediately released Devakī and Vasudeva from their shackles and spoke humbly. He wanted to compensate for his atrocities against his sister.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaṁsa was astonished because the goddess Durgā had become the daughter of Devakī.
  • Devakī must have had some transcendental qualities; otherwise why would the goddess Durgā have taken birth from her womb?
  • Under the circumstances, Kaṁsa, struck with wonder, wanted to compensate for his atrocities against his sister Devakī.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

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

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Atrocities of King Kaṁsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Devakī and Vasudeva, being naturally very pious, immediately excused Kaṁsa for his atrocities, and Kaṁsa, after seeing that his sister and brother-in-law were happy, returned to his home. After the night passed, however, Kaṁsa called for his ministers and informed them of all that had happened.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tayāby the goddess Durgā
  2. abhihitamthe words spoken
  3. ākarṇyaby hearing
  4. kaṁsaḥKaṁsa
  5. parama-vismitaḥwas struck with wonder
  6. devakīmunto Devakī
  7. vasudevam caand Vasudeva
  8. vimucyareleasing immediately
  9. praśritaḥwith great humility
  10. abravītspoke as follows
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.4

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.4

    In this verse: “child”

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

When I recognize that I have treated someone wrongly, am I ready to act humbly?

Practice

Take one small step today to repair a wrong you have done to someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWonder Opens the Way to HumilityThis 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 10.4.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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