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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
10.54.3110.54.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.54.32

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

द‍ृष्ट्वा भ्रातृवधोद्योगं रुक्‍मिणी भयविह्वला ।

पतित्वा पादयोर्भर्तुरुवाच करुणं सती ॥ ३२ ॥

dṛṣṭvā bhrātṛ-vadhodyogaṁ

rukmiṇī bhaya-vihvalā

patitvā pādayor bhartur

uvāca karuṇaṁ satī

Translation

Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa ready to kill her brother, saintly Rukmiṇī was filled with alarm. She fell at her husband’s feet and piteously spoke as follows.

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.

Turning to Kṛṣṇa in Fear

  1. 1

    Saintly Rukmiṇī was filled with alarm when she saw Lord Kṛṣṇa ready to kill her brother.

  2. 2

    In her distress, she fell at her husband’s feet.

  3. 3

    She spoke piteously, bringing her appeal directly to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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:

Then He raised His sword high and was about to kill Rukmī when Rukmiṇī interceded and fervently pleaded that her brother’s life be spared. Lord Kṛṣṇa did not kill Rukmī, but with His sword He shaved off bits of Rukmī’s hair here and there, leaving him disfigured.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.54
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  2. bhrātṛher brother
  3. vadhato kill
  4. udyogamthe attempt
  5. rukmiṇīŚrīmatī Rukmiṇī
  6. bhayaby fear
  7. vihvalāagitated
  8. patitvāfalling
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “distress”

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 I am afraid, do I turn to Kṛṣṇa with an honest appeal?

Practice

Today, bring one fear before Lord Kṛṣṇa in a brief, sincere prayer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurning to Kṛṣṇa in FearThis 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 10.54.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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