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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 53: Kṛṣṇa Kidnaps Rukmiṇī
10.53.3810.53.40-41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.53.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The people of the citysince 10.53.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं प्रेमकलाबद्धा वदन्ति स्म

पुरौकस: । कन्या चान्त:पुरात् प्रागाद् भटैर्गुप्ताम्बिकालयम् ॥ ३९ ॥

evaṁ prema-kalā-baddhā

vadanti sma puraukasaḥ

kanyā cāntaḥ-purāt prāgād

bhaṭair guptāmbikālayam

Translation

Bound by their swelling love, the city’s residents spoke in this way. Then the bride, protected by guards, left the inner palace to visit the temple of Ambikā.

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.

Let Love Shape Your Words

  1. 1

    The city’s residents spoke while bound by their swelling love.

  2. 2

    The purport cites “increase” among the meanings of kalā, supporting the description of their growing love.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, the bride left the inner palace to visit Ambikā’s temple, protected by guards.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the Medinī dictionary’s definition of the word kalā as follows: kalā mūle pravṛddhau syāc chilādāv aṁśa-mātrake.

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 53: Kṛṣṇa Kidnaps Rukmiṇī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When the time came for Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī to visit the temple of Śrī Ambikā, she proceeded there surrounded by many guards. After bowing down to the deity, Rukmiṇī prayed to be allowed to have Śrī Kṛṣṇa as her husband.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.53
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. premaof pure love
  3. kalāby the increase
  4. baddhāḥbound
  5. vadanti smathey spoke
  6. pura-okasaḥthe residents of the city
  7. kanyāthe bride
  8. caand
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.53

    In this verse: “protected”, “guards”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.53

    In this verse: “love”

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 sincere love change the way I speak?

Practice

Reread the verse slowly, pausing over the words “bound by their swelling love.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLet Love Shape Your WordsThis 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 10.53.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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