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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 42: The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow
10.41.5210.42.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.42.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.42.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

अथ व्रजन् राजपथेन माधव:

स्त्रियं गृहीताङ्गविलेपभाजनाम् ।

विलोक्य कुब्जां युवतीं वराननां

पप्रच्छ यान्तीं प्रहसन् रसप्रद: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

atha vrajan rāja-pathena mādhavaḥ

striyaṁ gṛhītāṅga-vilepa-bhājanām

vilokya kubjāṁ yuvatīṁ varānanāṁ

papraccha yāntīṁ prahasan rasa-pradaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As He walked down the King’s road, Lord Mādhava then saw a young hunchback woman with an attractive face, who carried a tray of fragrant ointments as she walked along. The bestower of the ecstasy of love smiled and inquired from her as follows.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Relieves the Earth’s Burden

  1. 1

    Lord Mādhava smiled and spoke to a young hunchbacked woman carrying fragrant ointments. He is the bestower of the ecstasy of love.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that she was a partial expansion of Satyabhāmā, the Lord’s internal energy known as Bhū-śakti. This expansion, Pṛthivī, represents the earth burdened by wicked rulers.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s straightening of Trivakrā represents His relieving the earth’s burden. He also awarded her a conjugal relationship with Himself and amused His cowherd friends through their exchange.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the young hunchbacked girl was actually a partial expansion of the Lord’s wife Satyabhāmā.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa descended to remove these wicked rulers, and thus His pastime of straightening out the hunchback Trivakrā, as explained in these verses, represents His rectifying the burdened condition of the earth.
  • In addition to the given meaning, the word rasa-pradaḥ indicates that the Lord amused His cowherd boyfriends by His dealings with the young hunchback.

The purport'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

Anxiety and conflict → Liberation and joy. Heroic victory is complicated by separation from Vraja.

Chapters 39–45 of Canto 10: Mathurā, Kaṁsa and reunion with parents. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 42: The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After leaving Sudāmā’s house, Lord Kṛṣṇa came upon Trivakrā, a young hunchbacked maidservant of Kaṁsa’s who was carrying a tray of fine ointments. The Lord asked her who she was and requested some ointment from her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.42
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. athathen
  3. vrajanwalking
  4. rāja-pathenaalong the King’s road
  5. mādhavaḥKṛṣṇa
  6. striyama woman
  7. gṛhītaholding
  8. aṅgafor the body
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.42

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.42

    In this verse: “king’s”, “rulers”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.42

    In this verse: “inquired”

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 encounter help me appreciate about the Lord’s personal care?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Lord Mādhava’s smile and His purpose of relieving the earth’s burden.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Relieves the Earth’s BurdenThis 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 10.42.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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