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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 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda
10.51.1110.51.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.51.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.51.1-6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स तावत्तस्य रुष्टस्य द‍ृष्टिपातेन भारत ।

देहजेनाग्निना दग्धो भस्मसादभवत् क्षणात् ॥ १२ ॥

sa tāvat tasya ruṣṭasya

dṛṣṭi-pātena bhārata

deha-jenāgninā dagdho

bhasma-sād abhavat kṣaṇāt

Translation

The awakened man was angry and cast his glance at Kālayavana, whose body burst into flames. In a single moment, O King Parīkṣit, Kālayavana was burnt to ashes.

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.

Mucukunda’s Benediction Takes Effect

  1. 1

    The awakened Mucukunda cast an angry glance at Kālayavana. Fire arose from Kālayavana’s own body, and he was reduced to ashes in a moment.

  2. 2

    Mucukunda had fought for the demigods for a long time and received the right to sleep undisturbed. He also secured the benediction that anyone who awakened him would be destroyed.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that this severe request was meant to deter Indra from repeatedly waking Mucukunda to seek his help in battle.

Key points from the purport
  • The man who incinerated Kālayavana with his glance was named Mucukunda.
  • Ācārya Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura quotes from the Śrī Hari-vaṁśa as follows:
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Mucukunda made this rather morbid request to scare Lord Indra, who, Mucukunda thought, might otherwise wake him repeatedly to request his help in fighting Indra’s cosmic enemies.

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 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The man stared harshly at him, igniting a fire in Kālayavana’s body and in a moment burning him to ashes. This extraordinary person was a son of Mandhātā’s named Mucukunda.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.51
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe, Kālayavana
  2. tāvatthat much
  3. tasyaof him, the awakened man
  4. ruṣṭasyawho was angered
  5. dṛṣṭiof the glance
  6. pātenaby the casting
  7. bhārataO descendant of Bharata (Parīkṣit Mahārāja)
  8. deha-jenagenerated in his own body
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 10.51

    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 Mucukunda’s wish for undisturbed sleep help me consider another person’s need for rest?

Practice

Avoid one unnecessary interruption of someone who is resting today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMucukunda’s Benediction Takes EffectThis 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 10.51.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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