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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.56.16

Who is speaking and story frame

प्राय: कृष्णेन निहतो मणिग्रीवो वनं गत: ।

भ्राता ममेति तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्णे कर्णेऽजपन् जना: ॥ १६ ॥

prāyaḥ kṛṣṇena nihato

maṇi-grīvo vanaṁ gataḥ

bhrātā mameti tac chrutvā

karṇe karṇe ’japan janāḥ

Translation

He said, “Kṛṣṇa probably killed my brother, who went to the forest wearing the jewel on his neck.” The general populace heard this accusation and began whispering it in one another’s ears.

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.

Suspicion Spreads Through Whispered Accusations

  1. 1

    Satrājit said that Kṛṣṇa had probably killed his brother, who had gone to the forest wearing the jewel.

  2. 2

    His word “probably” expressed suspicion, yet he accused Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The people heard the accusation and began whispering it in one another’s ears.

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 56: The Syamantaka Jewel

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Kṛṣṇa heard about this rumor circulating among the general populace, and to clear His name He went with some of the citizens to find Prasena. Following his path, they eventually found his body and that of his horse lying on the road.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.56
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāyaḥprobably
  2. kṛṣṇenaby Kṛṣṇa
  3. nihataḥkilled
  4. maṇithe jewel
  5. grīvaḥwearing on his neck
  6. vanamto the forest
  7. gataḥgone
  8. bhrātābrother
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.56

    In this verse: “heard”

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

Have I ever passed along a suspicion as though it were established truth?

Practice

Today, refrain from repeating one unverified claim about another person.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySuspicion Spreads Through Whispered AccusationsThis 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 10.56.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.