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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 55: The History of Pradyumna
10.55.1510.55.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.55.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.55.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रभाष्यैवं ददौ विद्यां प्रद्युम्नाय महात्मने ।

मायावती महामायां सर्वमायाविनाशिनीम् ॥ १६ ॥

prabhāṣyaivaṁ dadau vidyāṁ

pradyumnāya mahātmane

māyāvatī mahā-māyāṁ

sarva-māyā-vināśinīm

Translation

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Speaking thus, Māyāvatī gave to the great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge called Mahā-māyā, which vanquishes all other deluding spells.

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.

Knowledge That Vanquishes Deluding Spells

  1. 1

    After speaking, Māyāvatī gives mystic knowledge to Pradyumna.

  2. 2

    Pradyumna is described as a great soul.

  3. 3

    The knowledge is called Mahā-māyā and vanquishes all other deluding spells.

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 55: The History of Pradyumna

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

She advised Him to kill Śambara, and to help Him she instructed Him in the mystic mantras known as Mahā-māyā. Pradyumna went to Śambara and, after angering him with various insults, challenged him to fight, upon which Śambara angrily took up his club and marched outside.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.55
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prabhāṣyaspeaking
  2. evamthus
  3. dadaugave
  4. vidyāmmystic knowledge
  5. pradyumnāyato Pradyumna
  6. mahā-ātmanethe great soul
  7. māyāvatīMāyāvatī
  8. mahā-māyāmknown as Mahā-māyā
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.55

    In this verse: “māyāvatī”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.55

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 makes the knowledge Māyāvatī gives Pradyumna so powerful?

Practice

Write down the name Mahā-māyā and the power attributed to it in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnowledge That Vanquishes Deluding SpellsThis 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 10.55.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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