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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 46: Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana
10.46.2310.46.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.46.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nanda Mahārājasince 10.46.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कंसं नागायुतप्राणं मल्लौ गजपतिं यथा ।

अवधिष्टां लीलयैव पशूनिव मृगाधिप: ॥ २४ ॥

kaṁsaṁ nāgāyuta-prāṇaṁ

mallau gaja-patiṁ yathā

avadhiṣṭāṁ līlayaiva

paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ

Translation

After all, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma killed Kaṁsa, who was as strong as ten thousand elephants, as well as the wrestlers Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika and the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa. They killed them all sportingly, as easily as a lion disposes of small animals.

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.

Divine Power Displayed With Ease

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma killed Kaṁsa, who was as strong as ten thousand elephants, along with Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika and Kuvalayāpīḍa.

  2. 2

    They did this sportingly, as easily as a lion disposes of small animals.

  3. 3

    Nanda pointed to Their deeds as evidence of what Garga Muni had declared: these boys are divine. Everyone was talking about what They had done.

Key points from the purport
  • Here Nanda means to say, “Not only did Garga Muni declare that these boys are divine, but just see what They have done!

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

Heartache → Unbroken remembrance. Love endures and deepens despite visible absence.

Chapters 46–49 of Canto 10: Uddhava, the gopīs and the Song of the Bee. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 46: Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Just see how They have so easily dispatched Kaṁsa, the wrestlers, the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa and many other demons!” As Nanda remembered Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, his throat choked up with tears and he could speak no further.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.46
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaṁsamKaṁsa
  2. nāgaof elephants
  3. ayutaten thousand
  4. prāṇamwhose vital strength
  5. mallauthe two wrestlers (Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika)
  6. gaja-patimthe king of the elephants (Kuvalayāpīḍa)
  7. yathāinasmuch as
  8. avadhiṣṭāmthe two of Them killed
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “nanda”

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 the ease of Their actions reveal about Their extraordinary power?

Practice

Pause over the word “sportingly” and reflect for one minute on the power displayed by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDivine Power Displayed With EaseThis 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 10.46.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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