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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī
10.54.5610.54.58

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.54.57

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.54.50inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सिक्तमार्गा मदच्युद्भ‍िराहूतप्रेष्ठभूभुजाम् ।

गजैर्द्वा:सु परामृष्टरम्भापूगोपशोभिता ॥ ५७ ॥

sikta-mārgā mada-cyudbhir

āhūta-preṣṭha-bhūbhujām

gajair dvāḥsu parāmṛṣṭa-

rambhā-pūgopaśobhitā

Translation

The city’s streets were cleansed by the intoxicated elephants belonging to the beloved kings who were guests at the wedding, and these elephants further enhanced the beauty of the city by placing trunks of plantain and betel-nut trees in all the doorways.

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.

The Wedding City Is Further Beautified

  1. 1

    Beloved kings attended the wedding as guests, accompanied by their elephants.

  2. 2

    The intoxicated elephants cleansed the city’s streets.

  3. 3

    The elephants further enhanced the city’s beauty by placing trunks of plantain and betel-nut trees in all the doorways.

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 further instructed her about the transcendental position of the jīva soul and how the illusion of happiness and distress is simply a result of ignorance. Accepting Lord Balarāma’s instructions, Rukmiṇī gave up her sorrow.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.54
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. siktasprinkled
  2. mārgāits streets
  3. madaa secretion that flows from the foreheads of excited elephants
  4. cyudbhiḥexuding
  5. āhūtainvited
  6. preṣṭhabeloved
  7. bhū-bhujāmof the kings
  8. gajaiḥby the elephants
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 10.54

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “cleansed”

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

What small task of cleaning or beautifying could I do as devotional service?

Practice

Clean the entrance to the place where you practice devotional service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Wedding City Is Further BeautifiedThis 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 10.54.57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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