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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
10.59.3010.59.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.59.31

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Goddess Bhūmisince 10.59.25inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्यात्मजोऽयं तव पादपङ्कजं

भीत: प्रपन्नार्तिहरोपसादित: ।

तत् पालयैनं कुरु हस्तपङ्कजं

शिरस्यमुष्याखिलकल्मषापहम् ॥ ३१ ॥

tasyātmajo ’yaṁ tava pāda-paṅkajaṁ

bhītaḥ prapannārti-haropasāditaḥ

tat pālayainaṁ kuru hasta-paṅkajaṁ

śirasy amuṣyākhila-kalmaṣāpaham

Translation

Here is the son of Bhaumāsura. Frightened, he is approaching Your lotus feet, since You remove the distress of all who seek refuge in You. Please protect him. Place Your lotus hand, which dispels all sins, upon his head.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

Seek the Lord’s Shelter for Others

  1. 1

    The earth-goddess asks the Lord to protect her grandson, the son of Bhaumāsura. He has been frightened by the terrible violence that has just occurred.

  2. 2

    The frightened boy approaches the Lord’s lotus feet. The prayer addresses the Lord as the one who removes the distress of those who seek refuge in Him.

  3. 3

    The goddess asks the Lord to place His lotus hand upon the boy’s head. His touch dispels all sins.

Key points from the purport
  • Here the earth-goddess seeks protection for her grandson, who has been frightened by all the terribly violent events that just took place.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

She offered prayers to the Lord and presented Naraka’s frightened son at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. After pacifying the demon’s son, Kṛṣṇa entered Narakāsura’s palace, where He found sixteen thousand one hundred young women.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.59
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof him (Bhaumāsura)
  2. ātma-jaḥson
  3. ayamthis
  4. tavaYour
  5. pādafeet
  6. paṅkajamlotuslike
  7. bhītaḥafraid
  8. prapannaof those who take shelter
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.59

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.59

    In this verse: “refuge”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.59

    In this verse: “distress”

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

For whom can I sincerely seek the Lord’s protection today?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking the Lord to shelter someone who is frightened.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek the Lord’s Shelter for OthersThis 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 10.59.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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