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 42: The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow

10.42.4 10.42.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.42.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The maidservantsince 10.42.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ततस्तावङ्गरागेण स्ववर्णेतरशोभिना । सम्प्राप्तपरभागेन शुशुभातेऽनुरञ्जितौ ॥ ५ ॥

tatas tāv aṅga-rāgeṇa

sva-varṇetara-śobhinā

samprāpta-para-bhāgena

śuśubhāte ’nurañjitau

Translation

Anointed with these most excellent cosmetics, which adorned Them with hues that contrasted with Their complexions, the two Lords appeared extremely beautiful.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Ointments Adorn the Two Lords

1
The two Lords were anointed with the most excellent cosmetics.
2
The ointments had colors that contrasted with Their complexions. Adorned in this way, They appeared extremely beautiful.
3
The ācāryas suggest that Kṛṣṇa applied yellow ointment to His body and Balarāma applied blue ointment to His.

Key points from the purport

The ācāryas suggest that Kṛṣṇa spread yellow ointment upon His body, and Balarāma blue ointment upon His.

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

Chapter 42: The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The now beautiful and charming Trivakrā then grabbed the edge of Kṛṣṇa’s upper cloth and asked Him to come to her house. Kṛṣṇa replied that after He had taken care of some business He would certainly come and relieve her mental torment.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.42