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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
10.4.4410.4.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.4.45

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.4.43inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ते वै रज:प्रकृतयस्तमसा मूढचेतस: ।

सतां विद्वेषमाचेरुरारादागतमृत्यव: ॥ ४५ ॥

te vai rajaḥ-prakṛtayas

tamasā mūḍha-cetasaḥ

satāṁ vidveṣam ācerur

ārād āgata-mṛtyavaḥ

Translation

Surcharged with passion and ignorance and not knowing what was good or bad for them, the asuras, for whom impending death was waiting, began the persecution of the saintly persons.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Passion and Ignorance Obscure Good Judgment

  1. 1

    Overwhelmed by passion and ignorance, the asuras could not understand what was good or bad for them. They began persecuting saintly persons while death was approaching.

  2. 2

    The soul passes through childhood, youth and old age, and then enters another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by this change.

  3. 3

    Irresponsible persons, driven by passion and ignorance, foolishly do things that should not be done. We should consider the results of our actions.

Key points from the purport
  • The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.”
  • Irresponsible persons, surcharged with passion and ignorance, foolishly do things that are not to be done (nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma).
  • But one should know the results of irresponsible actions, as explained in the next verse.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.4.45 quotesBG 2.13

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.13): “As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. teall the asuric ministers
  2. vaiindeed
  3. rajaḥ-prakṛtayaḥsurcharged with the mode of passion
  4. tamasāoverwhelmed by the mode of ignorance
  5. mūḍha-cetasaḥfoolish persons
  6. satāmof saintly persons
  7. vidveṣampersecution
  8. āceruḥexecuted
  9. ārāt āgata-mṛtya-vaḥimpending death having already overtaken them
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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: “death”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “childhood”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.4

    In this verse: “understand”

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 feel driven to act impulsively, do I consider the consequences?

Practice

Pause before one impulsive action today and ask whether it could harm someone.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPassion and Ignorance Obscure Good JudgmentThis 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.

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