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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 60: Lord Kṛṣṇa Teases Queen Rukmiṇī.
10.60.1110.60.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.60.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.60.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राजभ्यो बिभ्यत: सुभ्रु समुद्रं शरणं गतान् ।

बलवद्भ‍ि: कृतद्वेषान् प्रायस्त्यक्तनृपासनान् ॥ १२ ॥

rājabhyo bibhyataḥ su-bhru

samudraṁ śaraṇaṁ gatān

balavadbhiḥ kṛta-dveṣān

prāyas tyakta-nṛpāsanān

Translation

Terrified of these kings, O lovely-browed one, We took shelter in the ocean. We have become enemies of powerful men, and We practically abandoned Our royal throne.

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.

Understanding the Lord’s Teasing Words

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa describes Himself as afraid of kings and sheltered in the ocean. Some authorities explain that He speaks this way to provoke anger in Rukmiṇī, who remains sober, free from jealousy and pleasing in speech.

  2. 2

    The Lord opposed almost all the contemporary kings, befriending only a few. He had appeared to relieve the earth’s burden of innumerable bogus kings.

  3. 3

    His words about abandoning the throne refer to His humility. After killing Kaṁsa, He gave the royal throne to His grandfather Ugrasena, although He Himself was entitled to it.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments on this verse as follows: “The Lord’s mentality here can be understood as follows: ‘When I gave Rukmiṇī a single flower from the heavenly pārijāta tree, Satyabhāmā showed such a torrent of fury that I could not pacify her even by bowing down at her feet.
  • Only when I gave her a whole pārijāta tree was she satisfied.
  • Finally Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the word tyakta-nṛpāsanān, “giving up the king’s throne,” indicates that after Lord Kṛṣṇa killed Kaṁsa He humbly gave the royal throne to His grandfather Ugrasena, although the Lord Himself was entitled to it.

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

Conflict and affection → Devotional wonder. Divine intimacy coexists with royal duties.

Chapters 60–69 of Canto 10: Palace life, family bonds and heroic protection. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 60: Lord Kṛṣṇa Teases Queen Rukmiṇī.

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

On this occasion the Lord looked at Rukmiṇī, whose beauty was faultless, and began to tease her: “Previously many wealthy kings, worthy of you in their appearance and character, wanted to marry you. In fact, your father and brother intended to give you in marriage to Śiśupāla.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.60
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājabhyaḥof the kings
  2. bibhyataḥafraid
  3. su-bhruO lovely-browed one
  4. samudramto the ocean
  5. śaraṇamfor shelter
  6. gatāngone
  7. bala-vadbhiḥtoward those who are powerful
  8. kṛta-dveṣānhaving showed enmity
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “shelter”, “sheltered”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “lovely-browed”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “kings”

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 the purport help you understand Kṛṣṇa’s words without mistaking them for weakness?

Practice

Write down the purport’s explanation of one of Kṛṣṇa’s statements about Himself.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.60's connections

Live this todayUnderstanding the Lord’s Teasing WordsThis 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 10.60.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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