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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 44: The Killing of Kaṁsa
10.44.3810.44.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.44.39

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaṁsasince 10.44.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स नित्यदोद्विग्नधिया तमीश्वरंपिबन्नदन्वा विचरन् स्वपन् श्वसन् । ददर्श चक्रायुधमग्रतो यत-स्तदेव रूपं दुरवापमाप ॥ ३९ ॥

sa nityadodvigna-dhiyā tam īśvaraṁ

pibann adan vā vicaran svapan śvasan

dadarśa cakrāyudham agrato yatas

tad eva rūpaṁ duravāpam āpa

Translation

Kaṁsa had always been disturbed by the thought that the Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore when drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or simply breathing, the King had always seen the Lord before him with the disc weapon in His hand. Thus Kaṁsa achieved the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord’s.

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.

Constant Remembrance Brings Extraordinary Mercy

  1. 1

    Kaṁsa constantly feared that the Supreme Lord would kill him. While drinking, eating, moving, sleeping, or breathing, he saw the Lord before him with His disc.

  2. 2

    Although born out of fear, this constant meditation on the Supreme Lord eradicated all Kaṁsa’s offenses.

  3. 3

    Kaṁsa was liberated when he died at the Lord’s hands. He received the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord’s.

Key points from the purport
  • Although born out of fear, Kaṁsa’s constant meditation on the Supreme Lord eradicated all his offenses, and therefore the demon was liberated upon his death at the Lord’s hands.

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:

Because out of fear Kaṁsa had always thought of Kṛṣṇa, after his death he gained the liberation of having a form like the Lord’s. Kaṁsa’s eight brothers then attacked Kṛṣṇa, but Balarāma easily killed each of them with His club, just as a lion kills defenseless animals.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.44
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe, Kaṁsa
  2. nityadāconstantly
  3. udvignaanxious
  4. dhiyāwith mind
  5. tamHim
  6. īśvaramthe Supreme Lord
  7. pibanwhile drinking
  8. adaneating
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “feared”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.44

    In this verse: “offenses”

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 power of remembering the Lord encourage me to remember Him in devotional service?

Practice

During one meal today, pause to remember the Supreme Lord with a desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConstant Remembrance Brings Extraordinary MercyThis 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 10.44.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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