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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
  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
10.44.3610.44.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.44.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaṁsasince 10.44.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रगृह्य केशेषु चलत्किरीटंनिपात्य रङ्गोपरि तुङ्गमञ्चात् । तस्योपरिष्टात् स्वयमब्जनाभ:पपात विश्वाश्रय आत्मतन्त्र: ॥ ३७ ॥

pragṛhya keśeṣu calat-kirītaṁ

nipātya raṅgopari tuṅga-mañcāt

tasyopariṣṭāt svayam abja-nābhaḥ

papāta viśvāśraya ātma-tantraḥ

Translation

Grabbing Kaṁsa by the hair and knocking off his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then the independent Lord, the support of the entire universe, threw Himself upon the King.

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.

The Independent Lord Supports the Universe

  1. 1

    The lotus-naveled Lord grabbed Kaṁsa by the hair, knocked off his crown, and threw him onto the wrestling mat.

  2. 2

    The Lord then threw Himself upon the King. He is independent and is the support of the entire universe.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda describes Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, striking Kaṁsa repeatedly on the chest. Simply from the strokes of His fist, Kaṁsa lost his vital force.

Key points from the purport
  • In Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the death of Kaṁsa as follows: “Kṛṣṇa at once straddled his chest and began to strike him over and over again.
  • Simply from the strokes of His fist, Kaṁsa lost his vital force.”

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 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He grabbed Kaṁsa by the hair, hurled him down onto the floor of the wrestling ring and threw Himself on top of him. In this way, Kaṁsa met his death.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.44
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pragṛhyagrabbing
  2. keśeṣuby the hair
  3. calatknocking off
  4. kirīṭamwhose crown
  5. nipātyathrowing down
  6. raṅga-uparionto the surface of the wrestling ring
  7. tuṅgahigh
  8. mañcātfrom the platform
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 does it mean to me that Kṛṣṇa is independent yet supports the entire universe?

Practice

Offer a short prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as the support of the entire universe.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Independent Lord Supports the UniverseThis 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 10.44.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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