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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī
10.54.2310.54.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.54.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.54.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

धनुर्विकृष्य सुद‍ृढं जघ्ने कृष्णं त्रिभि: शरै: ।

आह चात्र क्षणं तिष्ठ यदूनां कुलपांसन ॥ २४ ॥

dhanur vikṛṣya su-dṛḍhaṁ

jaghne kṛṣṇaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ

āha cātra kṣaṇaṁ tiṣṭha

yadūnāṁ kula-pāṁsana

Translation

Rukmī drew his bow with great strength and struck Lord Kṛṣṇa with three arrows. Then he said, “Stand here for a moment, O defiler of the Yadu dynasty!

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.

An Insult Can Carry Praise

  1. 1

    Rukmī drew his bow with great strength and struck Lord Kṛṣṇa with three arrows. He then addressed Him with an apparent insult against His dynasty.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that kula-pāṁsana can be understood as kula-pa, “O master of the Yadu dynasty,” and aṁsana, “O expert killer of enemies.”

  3. 3

    The ācārya gives grammatical details supporting this interpretation. Rukmī’s words can thus proclaim Kṛṣṇa’s mastery rather than dishonor Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that kula-pāṁsana may be understood as a combination of the words kula-pa, “O master of the Yadu dynasty,” and aṁsana, “O expert killer of enemies.”
  • The ācārya gives the grammatical details that make this interpretation possible.

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 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He approached the Lord, struck Him with arrows and demanded that He release Rukmiṇī. Śrī Kṛṣṇa fended off Rukmī’s weapons, breaking them to pieces.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.54
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dhanuḥhis bow
  2. vikṛṣyadrawing
  3. suvery
  4. dṛḍhamfirmly
  5. jaghnehe struck
  6. kṛṣṇamLord Kṛṣṇa
  7. tribhiḥwith three
  8. śaraiḥarrows
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

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 does the ācārya’s explanation change my understanding of Rukmī’s words?

Practice

Read the two meanings given in the purport aloud once, remembering Kṛṣṇa as master of the Yadu dynasty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Insult Can Carry PraiseThis 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 10.54.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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