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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

10.4.31 10.4.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.4.32

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.4.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

किमुद्यमै: करिष्यन्ति देवा: समरभीरव: ।

नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो ज्याघोषैर्धनुषस्तव ॥ ३२ ॥

kim udyamaiḥ kariṣyanti

devāḥ samara-bhīravaḥ

nityam udvigna-manaso

jyā-ghoṣair dhanuṣas tava

Translation

The demigods always fear the sound of your bowstring. They are constantly in anxiety, afraid of fighting. Therefore, what can they do by their endeavors to harm you?

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fear Used to Dismiss Opposition

1
The speakers describe the demigods as always afraid of the sound of the king’s bowstring.
2
They say the demigods are constantly anxious and afraid of fighting.
3
On this basis, they dismiss the possibility that the demigods’ efforts could harm him. This is their reassurance, not an instruction to intimidate others.

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

Chapter 4: The Atrocities of King Kaṁsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. The demoniac ministers further advised that Kaṁsa and the demons continue their enmity toward Viṣṇu because Viṣṇu is the original person among all the demigods.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.4

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kimwhat
udyamaiḥby their endeavors
kariṣyantiwill do
devāḥall the demigods
samara-bhīravaḥwho are afraid of fighting
nityamalways
udvigna-manasaḥwith agitated minds
jyā-ghoṣaiḥby the sound of the string
dhanuṣaḥof the bow
tavayour

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
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.4
In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.4
In this verse: “king’s”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I mistake another person’s fear for proof that I have nothing to consider?

Practice

Notice one moment today when someone seems anxious, and avoid treating their fear as weakness.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFear Used to Dismiss OppositionThis 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 10.4.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories