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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
10.4.110.4.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.4.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.4.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ते तु तूर्णमुपव्रज्य देवक्या गर्भजन्म तत् ।

आचख्युर्भोजराजाय यदुद्विग्न: प्रतीक्षते ॥ २ ॥

te tu tūrṇam upavrajya

devakyā garbha-janma tat

ācakhyur bhoja-rājāya

yad udvignaḥ pratīkṣate

Translation

Thereafter, all the watchmen very quickly approached King Kaṁsa, the ruler of the Bhoja dynasty, and submitted the news of the birth of Devakī’s child. Kaṁsa, who had awaited this news very anxiously, immediately took action.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fear Drives Kaṁsa Toward Cruelty

  1. 1

    The watchmen quickly reported the birth of Devakī’s child to Kaṁsa, ruler of the Bhoja dynasty.

  2. 2

    Kaṁsa was anxiously waiting because of the prophecy that Devakī’s eighth child would kill him.

  3. 3

    He was awake and ready to act. On hearing the news, he immediately moved to kill the child.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaṁsa was very anxiously waiting because of the prophecy that the eighth child of Devakī would kill him.
  • This time, naturally, he was awake and waiting, and when the watchmen approached him, he immediately took action to kill the child.

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:

Upon hearing this news, Kaṁsa appeared with great force in the maternity room, and in spite of Devakī’s pleas that the child be saved, the demon forcibly snatched the child from Devakī’s hands and dashed the child against a rock. Unfortunately for Kaṁsa, however, the newborn child slipped away from his hands, rose above his head and appeared as the eight-armed form of Durgā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. teall the watchmen
  2. tuindeed
  3. tūrṇamvery quickly
  4. upavrajyagoing before (the King)
  5. devakyāḥof Devakī
  6. garbha-janmathe deliverance from the womb
  7. tatthat (child)
  8. ācakhyuḥsubmitted
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 10.4

    In this verse: “king”, “ruler”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

Does fear ever make me ready to harm rather than pause?

Practice

When anxiety arises today, pause before speaking or acting in a way that could hurt someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFear Drives Kaṁsa Toward CrueltyThis 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 10.4.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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