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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 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī
10.54.4010.54.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.54.41

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Balarāmasince 10.54.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राज्यस्य भूमेर्वित्तस्य स्‍त्रियो मानस्य तेजस: ।

मानिनोऽन्यस्य वा हेतो: श्रीमदान्धा: क्षिपन्ति हि ॥ ४१ ॥

rājyasya bhūmer vittasya

striyo mānasya tejasaḥ

mānino ’nyasya vā hetoḥ

śrī-madāndhāḥ kṣipanti hi

Translation

[Again Balarāma addressed Kṛṣṇa:] Blinded by conceit with their personal opulences, proud men offend others for the sake of such things as kingdom, land, wealth, women, honor and power.

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.

Pride Blinds Us to Kṛṣṇa’s Arrangement

  1. 1

    Blinded by pride in their opulence, people offend others for kingdom, land, wealth, women, honor and power.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s marriage to Rukmiṇī was the best arrangement for everyone concerned, yet Rukmī maliciously opposed it. When her desire was fulfilled, he attacked the Lord with vulgar insults and mortal weapons.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s punishment humiliated the puffed-up prince, but it was only a mild punishment compared with what Rukmī had done.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa was originally meant to marry Rukmiṇī.
  • When his sister’s desire was finally fulfilled and she was taken by Kṛṣṇa, he viciously attacked the Lord with vulgar insults and mortal weapons.
  • In return Lord Kṛṣṇa tied him up and partially clipped his hair and mustache.

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:

Consoled in this way, Śiśupāla took his followers and returned to his kingdom. Rukmiṇī’s brother Rukmī, who hated Kṛṣṇa, was infuriated by Kṛṣṇa’s kidnapping of his sister.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.54
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājyasyaof kingdom
  2. bhūmeḥof land
  3. vittasyaof wealth
  4. striyaḥof a woman
  5. mānasyaof honor
  6. tejasaḥof power
  7. māninaḥthose who are proud
  8. anyasyaof something else
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “proud”, “offend”, “pride”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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

Does attachment to honor or control ever lead me to speak offensively?

Practice

Before defending your status today, pause and remove any insulting words from your response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPride Blinds Us to Kṛṣṇa’s ArrangementThis 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 10.54.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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