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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
10.44.3710.44.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.44.38

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

तं सम्परेतं विचकर्ष भूमौहरिर्यथेभं जगतो विपश्यत: । हाहेति शब्द: सुमहांस्तदाभू-दुदीरित: सर्वजनैर्नरेन्द्र ॥ ३८ ॥

taṁ samparetaṁ vicakarṣa bhūmau

harir yathebhaṁ jagato vipaśyataḥ

hā heti śabdaḥ su-mahāṁs tadābhūd

udīritaḥ sarva-janair narendra

Translation

As a lion drags a dead elephant, the Lord then dragged Kaṁsa’s dead body along the ground in full view of everyone present. O King, all the people in the arena tumultuously cried out, “Oh! Oh!”

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 Lord Makes Kaṁsa’s Death Clear

  1. 1

    Many people thought Kaṁsa had only been knocked unconscious when he was thrown from the dais.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa dragged Kaṁsa’s dead body so everyone would realize that the evil King was indeed dead.

  3. 3

    The audience’s cries of “Oh! Oh!” expressed astonishment. They were surprised that the King was suddenly dead and gone.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that many people in the audience thought Kaṁsa had simply been knocked unconscious when thrown from the lofty dais.
  • Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa dragged his corpse so everyone would realize that the evil King was indeed dead.
  • Thus the exclamation hā hā indicates how surprised the people were that the King was suddenly dead and gone.

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:

Except for Kaṁsa, everyone present cheered Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.44
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim
  2. samparetamdead
  3. vicakarṣadragged
  4. bhūmaualong the ground
  5. hariḥa lion
  6. yathāas
  7. ibhaman elephant
  8. jagataḥall the people
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “cried”

  • 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

How does the purport clarify the Lord’s action and the audience’s cries?

Practice

Reread the translation with the purport’s explanation of the audience’s astonishment in mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Makes Kaṁsa’s Death ClearThis 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 10.44.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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