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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda
10.51.4710.51.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.51.48

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Mucukundasince 10.51.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कलेवरेऽस्मिन् घटकुड्यसन्निभे

निरूढमानो नरदेव इत्यहम् ।

वृतो रथेभाश्वपदात्यनीकपै-

र्गां पर्यटंस्त्वागणयन् सुदुर्मद: ॥ ४८ ॥

kalevare ’smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe

nirūḍha-māno nara-deva ity aham

vṛto rathebhāśva-padāty-anīkapair

gāṁ paryaṭaṁs tvāgaṇayan su-durmadaḥ

Translation

With deep arrogance I took myself to be the body, which is a material object like a pot or a wall. Thinking myself a god among men, I traveled the earth surrounded by my charioteers, elephants, cavalry, foot soldiers and generals, disregarding You in my deluding pride.

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.

Bodily Pride Makes Us Disregard the Lord

  1. 1

    Mucukunda admits that he arrogantly identified himself with the body, a material object like a pot or a wall.

  2. 2

    Thinking himself a god among men, he traveled surrounded by his military forces and generals.

  3. 3

    His deluding pride led him to disregard the Lord.

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 wise Mucukunda, understanding the futility of material life, asked only that he might be allowed to take shelter of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Pleased at this request, the Lord said to Mucukunda, “My devotees are never enticed by material benedictions offered to them; only nondevotees, namely yogīs and speculative philosophers, are interested in material benedictions, having mundane desires in their hearts.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.51
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kalevarein the body
  2. asminthis
  3. ghaṭaa pot
  4. kuḍyaor a wall
  5. sannibhewhich is like
  6. nirūḍhaexaggerated
  7. mānaḥwhose false identification
  8. nara-devaḥa god among men (king)
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “pride”

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

Does pride in my body or position lead me to disregard the Lord?

Practice

When you notice pride today, pause and acknowledge the Lord rather than dwelling on your own importance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBodily Pride Makes Us Disregard the LordThis 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 10.51.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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