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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda
10.51.1810.51.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.51.19

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.51.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कालो बलीयान् बलिनां भगवानीश्वरोऽव्यय: ।

प्रजा: कालयते क्रीडन् पशुपालो यथा पशून् ॥ १९ ॥

kālo balīyān balināṁ

bhagavān īśvaro ’vyayaḥ

prajāḥ kālayate krīḍan

paśu-pālo yathā paśūn

Translation

“Inexhaustible time, stronger than the strong, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Like a herdsman moving his animals along, He moves mortal creatures as His pastime.

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 Guides Souls Through Time

  1. 1

    Inexhaustible time is stronger than the strong and is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. The force of time is Kṛṣṇa Himself.

  2. 2

    The Lord moves conditioned souls according to their karma through stages of spiritual rectification. Like a protective herdsman or a caring doctor, He guides those under His care.

  3. 3

    Material existence is a gradual cleansing process for souls trying to exploit material nature. The Lord's purpose is that we enjoy eternal life of bliss and knowledge as His enlightened associates.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord moves the conditioned souls along, according to their karma, through the various stages of spiritual rectification.
  • Thus the Lord is like a herdsman (the word paśu-pāla literally means “protector of animals”), who moves the creatures under his protection to various pastures and watering spots in order to protect them and sustain them.
  • Thus all of Mucukunda’s relatives, friends and co-workers had long ago been swept away by the force of time, which of course is Kṛṣṇa Himself.

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:

Kālayavana saw that Kṛṣṇa’s brilliantly effulgent body matched Nārada’s description of the Lord, and thus the Yavana knew He was the Personality of Godhead. Seeing that the Lord carried no weapons, Kālayavana put his own weapons aside and ran toward Him from behind, wanting to fight with Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.51
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kālaḥtime
  2. balīyānmore powerful
  3. balināmthan the powerful
  4. bhagavān īśvaraḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. avyayaḥinexhaustible
  6. prajāḥmortal creatures
  7. kālayatecauses to move
  8. krīḍanplaying
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “protective”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “cleansing”

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 might seeing the Lord's guidance as protective change your response to life's changes?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting on a change in your life in light of the Lord's cleansing purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Guides Souls Through TimeThis 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 10.51.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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