1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.4.31

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं चेत्तर्हि भोजेन्द्र पुरग्रामव्रजादिषु ।

अनिर्दशान् निर्दशांश्च हनिष्यामोऽद्य वै शिशून् ॥ ३१ ॥

evaṁ cet tarhi bhojendra

pura-grāma-vrajādiṣu

anirdaśān nirdaśāṁś ca

haniṣyāmo ’dya vai śiśūn

Translation

If this is so, O King of the Bhoja dynasty, beginning today we shall kill all the children born in all the villages, towns and pasturing grounds within the past ten days or slightly more.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Proposal to Kill Helpless Children

  1. 1

    The ministers proposed beginning their killing immediately.

  2. 2

    They targeted children born within the past ten days or slightly more.

  3. 3

    Their proposal extended throughout the villages, towns and pasturing grounds. It called for killing all children in that age range.

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:

The ministers, who were all demons, advised Kaṁsa that because his enemy had already taken birth somewhere else, all the children born within the past ten days in the villages within Kaṁsa’s kingdom should be killed. Although the demigods always feared Kaṁsa, they should not be treated leniently; since they were enemies, Kaṁsa should try his best to uproot their existence.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. cetif it is so
  3. tarhithen
  4. bhoja-indraO King of Bhoja
  5. pura-grāma-vraja-ādiṣuin all the towns, villages and pasturing grounds
  6. anirdaśānthose who are less than ten days old
  7. nirdaśān caand those who are just over ten days old
  8. haniṣyāmaḥwe shall kill
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.4

    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

How does this proposal deepen my concern for helpless children?

Practice

Do one small act of care today for a child or someone caring for a child.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Proposal to Kill Helpless ChildrenThis 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 10.4.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.