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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.43.15

Who is speaking and story frame

मृतकं द्विपमुत्सृज्य दन्तपाणि: समाविशत् । अंसन्यस्तविषाणोऽसृङ्‌मदबिन्दुभिरङ्कित: । विरूढस्वेदकणिकावदनाम्बुरुहो बभौ ॥ १५ ॥

mṛtakaṁ dvipam utsṛjya

danta-pāṇiḥ samāviśat

aṁsa-nyasta-viṣāṇo ’sṛṅ-

mada-bindubhir aṅkitaḥ

virūḍha-sveda-kaṇikā

vadanāmburuho babhau

Translation

Leaving the dead elephant aside, Lord Kṛṣṇa held on to the tusk and entered the wrestling arena. With the tusk resting on His shoulder, drops of the elephant’s blood and sweat sprinkled all over Him, and His lotus face covered with fine drops of His own perspiration, the Lord shone with great beauty.

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’s Beauty Shines After the Battle

  1. 1

    Leaving the dead elephant aside, Lord Kṛṣṇa entered the wrestling arena carrying its tusk.

  2. 2

    The tusk rested on His shoulder, and drops of the elephant’s blood and sweat sprinkled His body.

  3. 3

    Fine drops of His own perspiration covered His lotus face. Even in this appearance, the Lord shone with great beauty.

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 43: Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Sprinkled with the elephant’s blood and carrying one of his tusks on His shoulder as a weapon, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared unprecedentedly beautiful as He entered the wrestling arena. There the various classes of people saw Him in different ways, according to their specific relationship with Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.43
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛtakamdead
  2. dvipamthe elephant
  3. utsṛjyadiscarding
  4. dantahis tusk
  5. pāṇiḥin His hand
  6. samāviśatHe entered (the arena)
  7. aṁsaupon His shoulder
  8. nyastaplacing
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

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

Which detail of Kṛṣṇa’s beautiful appearance most draws your attention?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering the Lord’s lotus face as this verse describes it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Beauty Shines After the BattleThis 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 10.43.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.