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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 43: Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa
10.43.610.43.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.43.7

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

सङ्‌क्रुद्धस्तमचक्षाणो घ्राणद‍ृष्टि: स केशवम् । परामृशत् पुष्करेण स प्रसह्य विनिर्गत: ॥ ७ ॥

saṅkruddhas tam acakṣāṇo

ghrāṇa-dṛṣṭiḥ sa keśavam

parāmṛśat puṣkareṇa

sa prasahya vinirgataḥ

Translation

Infuriated at being unable to see Lord Keśava, the elephant sought Him out with his sense of smell. Once again Kuvalayāpīḍa seized the Lord with the end of his trunk, only to have the Lord forcefully free Himself.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Superior Potency Thwarts Pride

  1. 1

    Unable to see Lord Keśava, the furious elephant found Him by smell and seized Him again with his trunk.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa allowed Himself to be seized so that the elephant would be encouraged to keep fighting.

  3. 3

    When Kuvalayāpīḍa became proud, Kṛṣṇa forcefully freed Himself and again thwarted the elephant with His superior potency.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa allowed the elephant to seize Him so that the beast would be encouraged to keep fighting.
  • Once Kuvalayāpīḍa had thus become proud, Lord Kṛṣṇa again thwarted him with His superior potency.

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

Further reading

Chapter 43: Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Enraged at not being able to see Kṛṣṇa, Kuvalayāpīḍa sought Him out with his sense of smell and seized Him. But the Lord pulled loose.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.43
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saṅkruddhaḥinfuriated
  2. tamHim
  3. acakṣāṇaḥnot seeing
  4. ghrāṇaby his sense of smell
  5. dṛṣṭiḥwhose vision
  6. saḥhe, the elephant
  7. keśavamLord Keśava
  8. parāmṛśattook hold of
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.43

    In this verse: “proud”

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 the purport change my understanding of the elephant’s apparent success?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa acknowledging His superior potency rather than taking pride in your own strength.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Superior Potency Thwarts PrideThis 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 10.43.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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