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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 58: Kṛṣṇa Marries Five Princesses
10.58.3210.58.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.58.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.58.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न तां शेकुर्नृपा वोढुमजित्वा सप्त गोवृषान् ।

तीक्ष्णश‍ृङ्गान् सुदुर्धर्षान् वीर्यगन्धासहान् खलान् ॥ ३३ ॥

na tāṁ śekur nṛpā voḍhum

ajitvā sapta-go-vṛṣān

tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgān su-durdharṣān

vīrya-gandhāsahān khalān

Translation

The kings who came as suitors were not allowed to marry her unless they could subdue seven sharp-horned bulls. These bulls were extremely vicious and uncontrollable, and they could not tolerate even the smell of warriors.

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 Suitors Face a Difficult Condition

  1. 1

    The kings who came as suitors had to subdue seven bulls before they could marry the princess.

  2. 2

    The bulls had sharp horns and were extremely vicious and uncontrollable.

  3. 3

    They could not tolerate even the smell of warriors, making the challenge especially dangerous.

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 58: Kṛṣṇa Marries Five Princesses

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The King affectionately told the Lord, “You alone would be a suitable husband for my daughter, and if You subdue the seven bulls You may certainly marry her.” Lord Kṛṣṇa then manifested Himself in seven separate forms and subdued the seven bulls.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.58
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. tāmher
  3. śekuḥwere able
  4. nṛpāḥkings
  5. voḍhumto marry
  6. ajitvāwithout defeating
  7. saptaseven
  8. go-vṛṣānbulls
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 10.58

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.58

    In this verse: “dangerous”

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 noticed how formidable the condition for marrying the princess was?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify the three descriptions that show the bulls’ dangerous nature.

Live this todayThe Suitors Face a Difficult ConditionThis 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 10.58.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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