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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 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā
10.50.1610.50.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.50.17

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Jarāsandha looked at the two of Them andsince 10.50.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तावाह मागधो वीक्ष्य हे कृष्ण पुरुषाधम ।

न त्वया योद्धुमिच्छामि बालेनैकेन लज्जया ।

गुप्तेन हि त्वया मन्द न योत्स्ये याहि बन्धुहन् ॥ १७ ॥

tāv āha māgadho vīkṣya

he kṛṣṇa puruṣādhama

na tvayā yoddhum icchāmi

bālenaikena lajjayā

guptena hi tvayā manda

na yotsye yāhi bandhu-han

Translation

Jarāsandha looked at the two of Them and said: O Kṛṣṇa, lowest of men! I do not wish to fight alone with You, since it would be a shame to fight with a mere boy. You fool who keep Yourself hidden, O murderer of Your relatives, go away! I will not fight with You.

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.

Insults Reveal Praise of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī interprets Jarāsandha’s apparent insult as praise: Kṛṣṇa is Puruṣottama, the best of living beings, to whom all men are inferior.

  2. 2

    “Hidden” indicates that Kṛṣṇa is in everyone’s heart but invisible to material vision. The words calling Him foolish can also be read as declaring Him most alert.

  3. 3

    “Killer of relatives” can mean one who destroys the bondage of ignorance. “Please go” can mean that Kṛṣṇa should approach living beings and bless them to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Key points from the purport
  • In other words, here Lord Kṛṣṇa is being addressed as “O Puruṣottama, best of living beings.”
  • The word bandhu was used by Jarāsandha in the sense of “relative,” since Lord Kṛṣṇa killed His maternal uncle, Kaṁsa.
  • Similarly, the word yāhi, “please go,” indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa should approach the living beings and bless them to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

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

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. tauto the two of Them
  2. āhasaid
  3. māgadhaḥJarāsandha
  4. vīkṣyawatching
  5. he kṛṣṇaO Kṛṣṇa
  6. puruṣa-adhamalowest of men
  7. nanot
  8. tvayāwith You
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “bless”

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

Which of these meanings deepens your appreciation of Kṛṣṇa most?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking Kṛṣṇa to free you from ignorance and help you become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

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 10.50's connections

Live this todayInsults Reveal Praise of KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.50.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.