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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka
10.59.1210.59.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.59.13

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

प्रायुञ्जतासाद्य शरानसीन् गदा:

शक्त्यृष्टिशूलान्यजिते रुषोल्बणा: ।

तच्छस्‍त्रकूटं भगवान् स्वमार्गणै-

रमोघवीर्यस्तिलशश्चकर्त ह ॥ १३ ॥

prāyuñjatāsādya śarān asīn gadāḥ

śakty-ṛṣṭi-śūlāny ajite ruṣolbaṇāḥ

tac-chastra-kūṭaṁ bhagavān sva-mārgaṇair

amogha-vīryas tilaśaś cakarta ha

Translation

These fierce warriors furiously attacked invincible Lord Kṛṣṇa with arrows, swords, clubs, spears, lances and tridents, but the Supreme Lord, with unfailing prowess, cut this mountain of weapons into tiny pieces with His arrows.

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’s Prowess Never Fails

  1. 1

    The fierce warriors furiously attacked Lord Kṛṣṇa with many kinds of weapons.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the invincible Supreme Lord. His prowess is unfailing, despite the force of their attack.

  3. 3

    With His arrows, the Lord cut their mountain of weapons into tiny pieces.

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:

Naraka threw his śakti lance at Śrī Kṛṣṇa, but the weapon proved ineffective, and the Lord cut the demon’s entire army to pieces. Finally, with His sharp-edged disc Kṛṣṇa cut off Narakāsura’s head.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.59
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāyuñjatathey used
  2. āsādyaattacking
  3. śarānarrows
  4. asīnswords
  5. gadāḥclubs
  6. śaktispears
  7. ṛṣtilances
  8. śūlāniand tridents
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

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 this description help you appreciate Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering the verse’s description of Kṛṣṇa’s unfailing prowess.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Prowess Never FailsThis 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 10.59.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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