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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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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 4: The Atrocities of King Kaṁsa
10.4.3910.4.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.4.40

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

तस्मात् सर्वात्मना राजन् ब्राह्मणान् ब्रह्मवादिन: ।

तपस्विनो यज्ञशीलान् गाश्च हन्मो हविर्दुघा: ॥ ४० ॥

tasmāt sarvātmanā rājan

brāhmaṇān brahma-vādinaḥ

tapasvino yajña-śīlān

gāś ca hanmo havir-dughāḥ

Translation

O King, we, who are your adherents in all respects, shall therefore kill the Vedic brāhmaṇas, the persons engaged in offering sacrifices and austerities, and the cows that supply milk, from which clarified butter is obtained for the ingredients of sacrifice.

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 Plan to Destroy Sacrificial Life

  1. 1

    The king’s adherents declared their full allegiance to him and proposed killing the Vedic brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    They also targeted those engaged in sacrifices and austerities.

  3. 3

    Their plan included killing cows, whose milk supplies clarified butter for sacrifice. The verse records a destructive proposal, not conduct to follow.

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:

Therefore, the ministers advised, the demigods, the saintly persons, the cows and the brāhmaṇas should be systematically persecuted. Strongly advised in this way by his friends, the demoniac ministers, Kaṁsa approved of their instructions and considered it beneficial to be envious of the brāhmaṇas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. sarva-ātmanāin every respect
  3. rājanO King
  4. brāhmaṇānthe brāhmaṇas
  5. brahma-vādinaḥwho maintain the brahminical culture, centered around Viṣṇu
  6. tapasvinaḥpersons who are engaged in austerities
  7. yajña-śīlānpersons engaged in offering sacrifices
  8. gāḥ cacows and persons engaged in protecting cows
  9. hanmaḥwe shall kill
  10. haviḥ-dughāḥbecause they supply milk, from which clarified butter is obtained for the offering of sacrifice
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.4

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

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

What does this proposal reveal about the harm caused by destructive allegiance?

Practice

Write one sentence identifying how cows support sacrifice in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Plan to Destroy Sacrificial LifeThis 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 10.4.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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