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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 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa
10.44.3010.44.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.44.31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.44.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

हतेषु मल्लवर्येषु विद्रुतेषु च भोजराट् । न्यवारयत् स्वतूर्याणि वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ ३१ ॥

hateṣu malla-varyeṣu

vidruteṣu ca bhoja-rāṭ

nyavārayat sva-tūryāṇi

vākyaṁ cedam uvāca ha

Translation

The Bhoja king, seeing that his best wrestlers had all been killed or had fled, stopped the musical performance originally meant for his pleasure and spoke the following words.

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.

Kaṁsa Stops the Celebration

  1. 1

    The Bhoja king saw that his best wrestlers had all been killed or had fled.

  2. 2

    He stopped the musical performance that had originally been meant for his own pleasure.

  3. 3

    After stopping the music, he began to speak. The verse marks his response to the defeat of his wrestlers.

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 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The King, in a rage, stopped the festive music and ordered that Vasudeva, Nanda, Ugrasena and all the cowherds be severely punished and that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma be driven from the assembly. Kṛṣṇa became furious when He heard Kaṁsa speak this way, and He instantly leapt onto the lofty royal dais.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.44
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. hateṣubeing killed
  2. malla-varyeṣuthe best wrestlers
  3. vidruteṣuhaving run away
  4. caand
  5. bhoja-rāṭthe Bhoja king, Kaṁsa
  6. nyavārayatstopped
  7. svahis own
  8. tūryāṇimusical instruments
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “king”

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

What stands out to me about Kaṁsa stopping music originally intended for his pleasure?

Practice

Write one sentence describing Kaṁsa’s response to his wrestlers’ defeat, using only this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKaṁsa Stops the CelebrationThis 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 10.44.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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