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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 56: The Syamantaka Jewel
10.56.1610.56.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.56.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.56.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भगवांस्तदुपश्रुत्य दुर्यशो लिप्तमात्मनि ।

मार्ष्टुं प्रसेनपदवीमन्वपद्यत नागरै: ॥ १७ ॥

bhagavāṁs tad upaśrutya

duryaśo liptam ātmani

mārṣṭuṁ prasena-padavīm

anvapadyata nāgaraiḥ

Translation

When Lord Kṛṣṇa heard this rumor, He wanted to remove the stain on His reputation. So He took some of Dvārakā’s citizens with Him and set out to retrace Prasena’s path.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Acts to Clear His Reputation

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa heard the rumor that had stained His reputation.

  2. 2

    He wanted to remove that stain rather than leave the accusation unanswered.

  3. 3

    He took some citizens of Dvārakā with Him and set out to retrace Prasena’s path.

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. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa
  2. tatthat
  3. upaśrutyacoming to hear
  4. duryaśaḥinfamy
  5. liptamsmeared
  6. ātmaniupon Himself
  7. mārṣṭumin order to clean away
  8. prasena-padavīmthe path taken by Prasena
  9. anvapadyataHe followed
  10. nāgaraiḥtogether with people of the city
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.56

    In this verse: “citizens”

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

How does Kṛṣṇa’s response encourage me to seek facts rather than repeat rumors?

Practice

Before accepting a troubling claim today, take one small step to check what actually happened.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Acts to Clear His ReputationThis 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 10.56.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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