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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
10.50.5-610.50.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.50.7-8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.50.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

हनिष्यामि बलं ह्येतद्भ‍ुवि भारं समाहितम् ।

मागधेन समानीतं वश्यानां सर्वभूभुजाम् ॥ ७ ॥

अक्षौहिणीभि: सङ्ख्यातं भटाश्वरथकुञ्जरै: ।

मागधस्तु न हन्तव्यो भूय: कर्ता बलोद्यमम् ॥ ८ ॥

haniṣyāmi balaṁ hy etad

bhuvi bhāraṁ samāhitam

māgadhena samānītaṁ

vaśyānāṁ sarva-bhūbhujām

akṣauhiṇībhiḥ saṅkhyātaṁ

bhaṭāśva-ratha-kuñjaraiḥ

māgadhas tu na hantavyo

bhūyaḥ kartā balodyamam

Translation

[The Supreme Lord thought:] Since it is such a burden on the earth, I will destroy Jarāsandha’s army, consisting of akṣauhiṇīs of foot soldiers, horses, chariots and elephants, which the King of Magadha has assembled from all subservient kings and brought together here. But Jarāsandha himself should not be killed, since in the future he will certainly assemble another army.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Turns Opposition Toward His Purpose

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa decided to destroy Jarāsandha’s army because it was a burden on the earth.

  2. 2

    He chose not to kill Jarāsandha, who would certainly assemble another army.

  3. 3

    The Lord had descended to destroy the demons. Keeping Jarāsandha alive was efficient because he enthusiastically brought them to the Lord’s front door.

Key points from the purport
  • After due consideration, Lord Kṛṣṇa decided that since He had descended to the earth to destroy the demons, and since Jarāsandha was so enthusiastic to bring all the demons to the Lord’s front door, it was definitely more efficient to keep Jarāsandha alive and busy.

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:

Lord Kṛṣṇa reasoned that Jarāsandha would assemble another army and return again to fight; this would facilitate Kṛṣṇa’s goal of removing the earth’s burden. Released, Jarāsandha returned to Magadha and vowed to perform austerities with the aim of avenging his defeat.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.50
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. haniṣyāmiI will kill
  2. balamarmy
  3. hicertainly
  4. etatthis
  5. bhuviupon the earth
  6. bhārama burden
  7. samāhitamcollected
  8. māgadhenaby the King of Magadha, Jarāsandha
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “king”

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 does Kṛṣṇa’s decision show a purpose beyond the immediate battle?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why Kṛṣṇa chose to spare Jarāsandha.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Turns Opposition Toward His PurposeThis 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 10.50.7-8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.