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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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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 42: The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow
10.42.1610.42.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.42.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.42.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

करेण वामेन सलीलमुद्‌धृतंसज्यं च कृत्वा निमिषेण पश्यताम् । नृणां विकृष्य प्रबभञ्ज मध्यतोयथेक्षुदण्डं मदकर्युरुक्रम: ॥ १७ ॥

kareṇa vāmena sa-līlam uddhṛtaṁ

sajyaṁ ca kṛtvā nimiṣeṇa paśyatām

nṛṇāṁ vikṛṣya prababhañja madhyato

yathekṣu-daṇḍaṁ mada-kary urukramaḥ

Translation

Easily lifting the bow with His left hand, Lord Urukrama strung it in a fraction of a second as the King’s guards looked on. He then powerfully pulled the string and snapped the bow in half, just as an excited elephant might break a stalk of sugar cane.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

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.

Kṛṣṇa Breaks the Bow With Ease

  1. 1

    Lord Urukrama easily lifted the bow with His left hand.

  2. 2

    As the King’s guards watched, He strung it in a fraction of a second.

  3. 3

    He pulled the string powerfully and snapped the bow in half, like an excited elephant breaking a sugar cane stalk. This effortless strength displays the power of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Despite the guards’ protests, Kṛṣṇa forcibly picked up the bow, easily strung it and in an instant broke it in half, producing an ear-splitting sound that filled the heavens and struck terror in the heart of Kaṁsa. The many guards attacked Kṛṣṇa, crying out “Seize Him!
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.42
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kareṇawith His hand
  2. vāmenaleft
  3. sa-līlamplayfully
  4. uddhṛtamlifted
  5. sajyamthe stringing
  6. caand
  7. kṛtvādoing
  8. nimiṣeṇain the wink of an eye
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.42

    In this verse: “guards”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.42

    In this verse: “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

How does Kṛṣṇa’s ease in breaking the bow shape your understanding of His power?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, recall Kṛṣṇa lifting the bow with His left hand.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Breaks the Bow With EaseThis 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 10.42.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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