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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.50.22

Who is speaking and story frame

हरि: परानीकपयोमुचां मुहु:

शिलीमुखात्युल्बणवर्षपीडितम् ।

स्वसैन्यमालोक्य सुरासुरार्चितं

व्यस्फूर्जयच्छार्ङ्गशरासनोत्तमम् ॥ २२ ॥

hariḥ parānīka-payomucāṁ muhuḥ

śilīmukhāty-ulbaṇa-varṣa-pīḍitam

sva-sainyam ālokya surāsurārcitaṁ

vyasphūrjayac chārṅga-śarāsanottamam

Translation

Seeing His army tormented by the relentless and savage rain of arrows from the massive opposing forces gathered like clouds about Him, Lord Hari twanged His excellent bow, Śārṅga, which both gods and demons worship.

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 Responds to His Army’s Suffering

  1. 1

    The massive enemy forces surround Lord Hari like clouds and unleash a relentless, savage rain of arrows.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa sees His own army being tormented by this attack.

  3. 3

    He responds by twanging His excellent bow, Śārṅga. The bow is worshiped by both gods and demons.

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:

Then Kṛṣṇa twanged His bow and started to rain down a torrent of arrows upon the enemy soldiers. Soon Jarāsandha’s unfathomable army had been annihilated.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.50
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. hariḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  2. paraof the enemy
  3. anīkaof the armies
  4. payaḥ-mucām(which were like) clouds
  5. muhuḥrepeatedly
  6. śilīmukhaof their arrows
  7. atiextremely
  8. ulbaṇafearsome
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “worship”, “worshiped”

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 stands out to you about Kṛṣṇa seeing His army’s suffering and responding?

Practice

Read the verse once as a devotional meditation on Kṛṣṇa’s attention to His afflicted army.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Responds to His Army’s SufferingThis 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 10.50.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.