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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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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
10.51.2010.51.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.51.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.51.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवमुक्त: स वै देवानभिवन्द्य महायशा: ।

अशयिष्ट गुहाविष्टो निद्रया देवदत्तया ॥ २१ ॥

evam uktaḥ sa vai devān

abhivandya mahā-yaśāḥ

aśayiṣṭa guhā-viṣṭo

nidrayā deva-dattayā

Translation

Addressed thus, King Mucukunda took his respectful leave of the demigods and went to a cave, where he lay down to enjoy the sleep they had granted him.

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 Receives His Chosen Rest

  1. 1

    Mucukunda respectfully took leave of the demigods and entered a cave to sleep.

  2. 2

    The alternate reading quoted in the purport explains that the King, exhausted by his labor, chose sleep as his benediction.

  3. 3

    He also requested that anyone disturbing his sleep be burned to ashes. The demigods granted that the person who woke him would turn to ashes as soon as he looked at that person.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following lines from an alternate reading of this chapter.
  • He further stated, ‘O best of the demigods, may whoever disturbs my sleep be immediately burned to ashes.’
  • The demigods replied, ‘So be it,’ and told him, ‘That insensitive person who wakes you in the middle of your sleep will immediately turn to ashes simply by your seeing him.’”

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:

Mucukunda had chosen from the demigods the benediction of being covered by sleep, and thus since then he had been lying asleep within the cave. Upon Kālayavana’s immolation, Śrī Kṛṣṇa showed Himself to Mucukunda, who was struck with wonder at seeing Kṛṣṇa’s incomparable beauty.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.51
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. uktaḥaddressed
  3. saḥhe
  4. vaiindeed
  5. devānthe demigods
  6. abhivandyasaluting
  7. mahāgreat
  8. yaśāḥwhose fame
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

What can you appreciate about Mucukunda's respectful departure despite his exhaustion?

Practice

When finishing a tiring task today, take leave of those involved with a courteous word before resting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMucukunda Receives His Chosen RestThis 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 10.51.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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