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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā
10.50.1510.50.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.50.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.50.13-14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शङ्खं दध्मौ विनिर्गत्य हरिर्दारुकसारथि: ।

ततोऽभूत् परसैन्यानां हृदि वित्रासवेपथु: ॥ १६ ॥

śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau vinirgatya

harir dāruka-sārathiḥ

tato ’bhūt para-sainyānāṁ

hṛdi vitrāsa-vepathuḥ

Translation

As Lord Kṛṣṇa came out of the city with Dāruka at the reins of His chariot, He blew His conchshell, and the enemy soldiers’ hearts began to tremble with fear.

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.

Kṛṣṇa’s Conchshell Makes Enemy Hearts Tremble

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa comes out of the city with Dāruka driving His chariot.

  2. 2

    As He comes out, Kṛṣṇa blows His conchshell.

  3. 3

    The sound causes the enemy soldiers’ hearts to tremble with fear. The verse shows the powerful effect of the Lord’s presence.

How it feels

Yearning and danger → Marriage and reciprocity. A wider range of divine relationships appears.

Chapters 50–59 of Canto 10: Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī and royal rescues. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Lord Kṛṣṇa came before His opponent’s army, He sounded His conchshell, striking fear into His enemies’ hearts. King Jarāsandha surrounded Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with his soldiers, chariots and so on, and the women of the city, having climbed up to the roofs of the palaces, became extremely unhappy because they could not see the Lords.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.50
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śaṅkhamHis conchshell
  2. dadhmaublew
  3. vinirgatyaupon going out
  4. hariḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  5. dāruka-sārathiḥwhose chariot driver was Dāruka
  6. tataḥthereupon
  7. abhūtarose
  8. paraof the enemy
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “fear”

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 soldiers’ response help you appreciate about Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read this verse slowly once, giving your attention to Kṛṣṇa blowing His conchshell.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Conchshell Makes Enemy Hearts TrembleThis 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 10.50.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.