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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 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā
10.50.1910.50.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.50.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.50.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

जरासुतस्तावभिसृत्य माधवौ

महाबलौघेन बलीयसावृणोत् ।

ससैन्ययानध्वजवाजिसारथी

सूर्यानलौ वायुरिवाभ्ररेणुभि: ॥ २० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

jarā-sutas tāv abhisṛtya mādhavau

mahā-balaughena balīyasāvṛnot

sa-sainya-yāna-dhvaja-vāji-sārathī

sūryānalau vāyur ivābhra-reṇubhiḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Just as the wind covers the sun with clouds or a fire with dust, the son of Jarā marched toward the two descendants of Madhu and with his huge assemblage of armies surrounded Them and Their soldiers, chariots, flags, horses and charioteers.

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 Lord’s Power Is Not Covered

  1. 1

    The son of Jarā surrounds the two descendants of Madhu and Their forces with his huge armies.

  2. 2

    Śrīdhara explains that clouds only seem to cover the sun, which continues shining in the vast sky. A thin covering of dust likewise does not affect fire’s potency.

  3. 3

    Similarly, the covering produced by Jarāsandha’s military strength is only apparent. It does not diminish the Lords’ power.

Key points from the purport
  • Ācārya Śrīdhara points out that clouds only seem to cover the sun: the sun remains shining in the vast sky.
  • Nor is the potency of fire affected by a thin covering of dust.
  • Similarly, the “covering” of Jarāsandha’s military strength was only apparent.

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:

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. Then Kṛṣṇa twanged His bow and started to rain down a torrent of arrows upon the enemy soldiers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.50
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. jarā-sutaḥthe son of Jarā
  3. tauthe two of Them
  4. abhisṛtyagoing up to
  5. mādhavauthe descendants of Madhu
  6. mahāgreat
  7. balaof military prowess
  8. oghenawith a flood
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

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 the examples of sun and fire help you understand the Lords’ position?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the sun continuing to shine behind clouds, remembering that the Lords’ power remains unaffected.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Power Is Not CoveredThis 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 10.50.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.