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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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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 49: Akrūra’s Mission in Hastināpura
10.49.410.49.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.49.5-6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.49.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तेज ओजो बलं वीर्यं प्रश्रयादींश्च सद्गुणान् ।

प्रजानुरागं पार्थेषु न सहद्भ‍िश्चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ५ ॥

कृतं च धार्तराष्ट्रैर्यद् गरदानाद्यपेशलम् ।

आचख्यौ सर्वमेवास्मै पृथा विदुर एव च ॥ ६ ॥

teja ojo balaṁ vīryaṁ

praśrayādīṁś ca sad-guṇān

prajānurāgaṁ pārtheṣu

na sahadbhiś cikīṛṣitam

kṛtaṁ ca dhārtarāṣṭrair yad

gara-dānādy apeśalam

ācakhyau sarvam evāsmai

pṛthā vidura eva ca

Translation

Kuntī and Vidura described to Akrūra in detail the evil intentions of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, who could not tolerate the great qualities of Kuntī’s sons — such as their powerful influence, military skill, physical strength, bravery and humility — or the intense affection the citizens had for them. Kuntī and Vidura also told Akrūra about how the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra had tried to poison the Pāṇḍavas and carry out other such plots.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Envy Cannot Tolerate Others’ Good Qualities

  1. 1

    Kuntī’s sons possessed powerful influence, military skill, physical strength, bravery and humility.

  2. 2

    Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons could not tolerate these great qualities or the citizens’ intense affection for the Pāṇḍavas.

  3. 3

    Kuntī and Vidura described their evil intentions to Akrūra in detail, including attempts to poison the Pāṇḍavas and other plots.

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 49: Akrūra’s Mission in Hastināpura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Vidura and Kuntīdevī described to Akrūra in detail how Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, envious of the exalted qualities of the Pāṇḍavas, had tried to destroy them by various evil means and were contemplating further atrocities. With tearful eyes, Kuntīdevī asked Akrūra, “Do my parents and other relatives, headed by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, ever think of me and my sons, and will Kṛṣṇa ever come to console us in our distress?”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.49
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tejaḥthe influence
  2. ojaḥskill
  3. balamstrength
  4. vīryambravery
  5. praśrayahumility
  6. ādīnand so on
  7. caand
  8. satexcellent
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.49

    In this verse: “citizens”, “citizens’”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.49

    In this verse: “humility”

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 do I respond when another person’s good qualities earn affection and respect?

Practice

Acknowledge one good quality in someone today without comparing yourself with them.

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 10.49's connections

Live this todayEnvy Cannot Tolerate Others’ Good QualitiesThis 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 10.49.5-6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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