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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

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 43: Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa

10.43.35 10.43.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.43.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Cāṇūrasince 10.43.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्निशम्याब्रवीत्कृष्णो देशकालोचितं वच: । नियुद्धमात्मनोऽभीष्टं मन्यमानोऽभिनन्द्य च ॥ ३६ ॥

tan niśamyābravīt kṛṣṇo

deśa-kālocitaṁ vacaḥ

niyuddham ātmano ’bhīṣṭaṁ

manyamāno ’bhinandya ca

Translation

Hearing this, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who liked to wrestle and welcomed the challenge, replied with words appropriate to the time and place.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Speaks According to Time and Place

1
Lord Kṛṣṇa hears the challenge before replying.
2
He likes to wrestle and welcomes the opportunity.
3
His reply uses words appropriate to the time and 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 43: Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Kṛṣṇa replied, “Although We are merely nomadic forest folk, We are nonetheless subjects of the King; thus We will not hesitate to please him with an exhibition of wrestling.” As soon as Cāṇūra heard this, he suggested that Kṛṣṇa should wrestle him and that Balarāma should wrestle Muṣṭika.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.43

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tatthat
niśamyahearing
abravītspoke
kṛṣṇaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
deśafor the place
kālaand time
ucitamappropriate
vacaḥwords

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.43
In this verse: “hearing”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I consider the time and place before choosing my words?

Practice

Before one important reply today, pause and choose words suited to the situation.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Speaks According to Time and PlaceThis 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 10.43.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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