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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.52.38

Who is speaking and story frame

का त्वा मुकुन्द महती कुलशीलरूप-

विद्यावयोद्रविणधामभिरात्मतुल्यम् ।

धीरा पतिं कुलवती न वृणीत कन्या

काले नृसिंह नरलोकमनोऽभिरामम् ॥ ३८ ॥

kā tvā mukunda mahatī kula-śīla-rūpa-

vidyā-vayo-draviṇa-dhāmabhir ātma-tulyam

dhīrā patiṁ kulavatī na vṛṇīta kanyā

kāle nṛ-siṁha nara-loka-mano-’bhirāmam

Translation

O Mukunda, You are equal only to Yourself in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, youthfulness, wealth and influence. O lion among men, You delight the minds of all mankind. What aristocratic, sober-minded and marriageable girl of a good family would not choose You as her husband when the proper time has come?

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.

Kṛṣṇa's Qualities Are Without Equal

  1. 1

    Rukmiṇī addresses the Lord as Mukunda and declares that He is equal only to Himself.

  2. 2

    She praises His lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, youthfulness, wealth and influence.

  3. 3

    Calling Him a lion among men who delights all mankind, she asks what suitable, sober-minded girl would not choose Him as her husband.

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 52: Rukmiṇī’s Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Rukmiṇī, the young daughter of Bhīṣmaka, King of Vidarbha, had heard of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, strength and other fine qualities, and she therefore made up her mind that He would be the perfect husband for her. Lord Kṛṣṇa also wanted to marry her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.52
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kāwho
  2. tvāYou
  3. mukundaO Kṛṣṇa
  4. mahatīaristocratic
  5. kulain terms of family background
  6. śīlacharacter
  7. rūpabeauty
  8. vidyāknowledge
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Which of the qualities Rukmiṇī praises deepens my appreciation of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one quality named in this verse and express your appreciation of it in a brief prayer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa's Qualities Are Without EqualThis 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 10.52.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.