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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka
10.59.1010.59.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.59.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.59.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

व्यसु: पपाताम्भसि कृत्तशीर्षो

निकृत्तश‍ृङ्गोऽद्रिरिवेन्द्रतेजसा ।

तस्यात्मजा: सप्त पितुर्वधातुरा:

प्रतिक्रियामर्षजुष: समुद्यता: ॥ ११ ॥

vyasuḥ papātāmbhasi kṛtta-śīrṣo

nikṛtta-śṛṅgo ’drir ivendra-tejasā

tasyātmajāḥ sapta pitur vadhāturāḥ

pratikriyāmarṣa-juṣaḥ samudyatāḥ

Translation

Lifeless, Mura’s decapitated body fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been severed by the power of Lord Indra’s thunderbolt. The demon’s seven sons, enraged by their father’s death, prepared to retaliate.

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.

Anger Leads Mura’s Sons Toward Retaliation

  1. 1

    Mura’s lifeless, decapitated body fell into the water.

  2. 2

    His fall is compared to a mountain whose peak has been severed by Lord Indra’s thunderbolt.

  3. 3

    Mura’s seven sons became enraged by their father’s death and prepared to retaliate.

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 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then He fought Mura’s seven sons and sent them all to the abode of death, after which Narakāsura himself entered the battlefield on the back of an elephant. Naraka threw his śakti lance at Śrī Kṛṣṇa, but the weapon proved ineffective, and the Lord cut the demon’s entire army to pieces.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.59
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vyasuḥlifeless
  2. papātahe fell
  3. ambhasiinto the water
  4. kṛttasevered
  5. śīrṣaḥhis heads
  6. nikṛttacut off
  7. śṛṅgaḥwhose peak
  8. adriḥa mountain
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.59

    In this verse: “death”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.59

    In this verse: “father’s”

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 do you notice about the way anger moved Mura’s sons toward retaliation?

Practice

If anger arises today, pause before responding and recall how quickly Mura’s sons prepared to retaliate.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAnger Leads Mura’s Sons Toward RetaliationThis 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 10.59.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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