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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 10.57.26

Who is speaking and story frame

उवास तस्यां कतिचिन्मिथिलायां समा विभु: ।

मानित: प्रीतियुक्तेन जनकेन महात्मना ।

ततोऽशिक्षद् गदां काले धार्तराष्ट्र: सुयोधन: ॥ २६ ॥

uvāsa tasyāṁ katicin

mithilāyāṁ samā vibhuḥ

mānitaḥ prīti-yuktena

janakena mahātmanā

tato ’śikṣad gadāṁ kāle

dhārtarāṣṭraḥ suyodhanaḥ

Translation

The almighty Lord Balarāma stayed in Mithilā for several years, honored by His affectionate devotee Janaka Mahārāja. During that time Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son Duryodhana learned from Balarāma the art of fighting with a club.

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.

Affectionate Service to Lord Balarāma

  1. 1

    The almighty Lord Balarāma stayed in Mithilā for several years.

  2. 2

    His affectionate devotee Janaka Mahārāja honored Him throughout His stay.

  3. 3

    During that time, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son Duryodhana learned the art of fighting with a club from Balarāma.

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 57: Satrājit Murdered, the Jewel Returned

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus Lord Balarāma traveled to Mithilā and remained there for a few years, during which He taught King Duryodhana the art of fighting with a club. Lord Kṛṣṇa returned to Dvārakā and had the funeral rites performed for Satrājit.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.57
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. uvāsaHe lived
  2. tasyāmthere
  3. katicitseveral
  4. mithilāyāmin Mithila
  5. samāḥyears
  6. vibhuḥthe almighty Lord, Śrī Balarāma
  7. mānitaḥhonored
  8. prīti-yuktenaaffectionate
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.57

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 can Janaka Mahārāja’s affectionate honoring of the Lord inspire my devotional service?

Practice

Offer one small act of devotional service today with deliberate affection for the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAffectionate Service to Lord BalarāmaThis 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 10.57.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.