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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 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son
10.45.1210.45.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.45.13

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 10.45.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आह चास्मान् महाराज प्रजाश्चाज्ञप्तुमर्हसि ।

ययातिशापाद् यदुभिर्नासितव्यं नृपासने ॥ १३ ॥

āha cāsmān mahā-rāja

prajāś cājñaptum arhasi

yayāti-śāpād yadubhir

nāsitavyaṁ nṛpāsane

Translation

The Lord told him: O mighty King, We are your subjects, so please command Us. Indeed, because of the curse of Yayāti, no Yadu may sit on the royal throne.

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 Supreme Lord Plays a Human Part

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa asked Ugrasena to command Them as his subjects, anticipating that Ugrasena might ask Him to take the throne.

  2. 2

    Because of Yayāti’s ancient curse, princes of the Yadu dynasty technically could not occupy the royal throne. Kṛṣṇa therefore presented Himself and Balarāma as disqualified.

  3. 3

    Although Ugrasena could also be considered part of the Yadu dynasty, he could rule by the Lord’s order. These were pastimes the Supreme Lord enjoyed while playing the part of a human being.

Key points from the purport
  • Ugrasena might have told the Lord, “My dear Lord, it is actually You who should sit on the throne.”
  • Anticipating this statement, Lord Kṛṣṇa told Ugrasena that because of Yayāti’s ancient curse, princes in the Yadu dynasty could technically not sit on the royal throne, and therefore Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were disqualified.
  • Of course, Ugrasena also could be considered part of the Yadu dynasty, but by the order of the Lord he could sit on the royal throne.

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 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Protected by the mighty arms of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the Yādavas began to enjoy supreme bliss. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma next approached Nanda Mahārāja and praised him for having cared so lovingly for Them, another’s sons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.45
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āhaHe (Lord Kṛṣṇa) said
  2. caand
  3. asmānUs
  4. mahā-rājaO great King
  5. prajāḥyour subjects
  6. caalso
  7. ājñaptum arhasiplease command
  8. yayātiby the ancient King Yayāti
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.45

    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 can you recognize Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy even when He acts as a subject?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s request to Ugrasena, remembering that His subordinate role is a pastime of the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.45's connections

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Plays a Human PartThis 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 10.45.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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