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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 53: Kṛṣṇa Kidnaps Rukmiṇī
10.53.610.53.8-9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.53.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.53.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राजा स कुण्डिनपति: पुत्रस्‍नेहवशानुग: ।

शिशुपालाय स्वां कन्यां दास्यन् कर्माण्यकारयत् ॥ ७ ॥

rājā sa kuṇḍina-patiḥ

putra-sneha-vaśānugaḥ

śiśupālāya svāṁ kanyāṁ

dāsyan karmāṇy akārayat

Translation

King Bhīṣmaka, the master of Kuṇḍina, having succumbed to the sway of affection for his son, was about to give his daughter to Śiśupāla. The King saw to all the required preparations.

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.

Attachment Can Direct Our Decisions

  1. 1

    King Bhīṣmaka was preparing to give his daughter to Śiśupāla and arranged the required preparations.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Bhīṣmaka had no particular liking for Śiśupāla.

  3. 3

    Instead, the King acted under the sway of attachment to his son Rukmī.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out in this connection that King Bhīṣmaka had no particular liking for Śiśupāla but rather acted out of attachment for his son Rukmī.

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:

King Bhīṣmaka, trapped by his affection for his son Rukmī, was prepared to give his daughter to Śiśupāla. Bhīṣmaka saw to all the necessary preparations: he had the city decorated in various ways and had its main roads and intersections thoroughly cleansed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.53
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājāthe king
  2. saḥhe, Bhīṣmaka
  3. kuṇḍina-patiḥmaster of Kuṇḍina
  4. putrafor his son
  5. snehaof affection
  6. vaśathe control
  7. anugaḥobeying
  8. śiśupālāyato Śiśupāla
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 10.53

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.53

    In this verse: “attachment”

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

When might affection for someone make it difficult for you to judge a decision clearly?

Practice

Pause over one decision today and ask whether attachment is directing your choice.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttachment Can Direct Our DecisionsThis 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 10.53.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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