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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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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 43: Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa
10.43.410.43.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.43.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.43.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं निर्भर्त्सितोऽम्बष्ठ: कुपित: कोपितं गजम् । चोदयामास कृष्णाय कालान्तकयमोपमम् ॥ ५ ॥

evaṁ nirbhartsito ’mbaṣṭhaḥ

kupitaḥ kopitaṁ gajam

codayām āsa kṛṣṇāya

kālāntaka-yamopamam

Translation

Thus threatened, the elephant-keeper became angry. He goaded his furious elephant, who appeared equal to time, death and Yamarāja, into attacking Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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.

Anger Drives the Keeper to Attack

  1. 1

    The elephant-keeper became angry when Lord Kṛṣṇa threatened him.

  2. 2

    Instead of moving aside, he goaded his furious elephant into attacking the Lord.

  3. 3

    The elephant appeared as fearsome as time, death and Yamarāja.

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:

At the gate of the wrestling arena They encountered an elephant named Kuvalayāpīḍa, who attacked Kṛṣṇa at the urging of his keeper. The mighty elephant grabbed at Kṛṣṇa with his trunk, but the Lord struck back and then disappeared from the beast’s sight among his legs.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.43
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. nirbhartsitaḥthreatened
  3. ambaṣṭhaḥthe elephant-keeper
  4. kupitaḥangered
  5. kopitamthe enraged
  6. gajamelephant
  7. codayām āsahe goaded
  8. kṛṣṇāyatoward Kṛṣṇa
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.43

    In this verse: “death”, “fearsome”

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 did the keeper’s anger shape his response to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Notice one moment of anger today and pause before allowing it to drive your response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAnger Drives the Keeper to AttackThis 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 10.43.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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