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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

10.61.24 10.61.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.61.25

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.61.22inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दौहित्रायानिरुद्धाय पौत्रीं रुक्‍म्याददाद्धरे: ।

रोचनां बद्धवैरोऽपि स्वसु: प्रियचिकीर्षया ।

जानन्नधर्मं तद् यौनं स्‍नेहपाशानुबन्धन: ॥ २५ ॥

dauhitrāyāniruddhāya

pautrīṁ rukmy ādadād dhareḥ

rocanāṁ baddha-vairo ’pi

svasuḥ priya-cikīrṣayā

jānann adharmaṁ tad yaunaṁ

sneha-pāśānubandhanaḥ

Translation

Rukmī gave his granddaughter Rocanā to his daughter’s son, Aniruddha, despite Rukmī’s relentless feud with Lord Hari. Although Rukmī considered this marriage irreligious, he wanted to please his sister, bound as he was by the ropes of affection.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Comes Before Secondary Rules

1
Rukmī gave Rocanā to Aniruddha to please his sister. Affection moved him to accept a marriage he considered improper because of his enmity toward Lord Hari.
2
Lord Kṛṣṇa is actually the well-wishing friend of every living being, not anyone’s enemy. Rukmī could not appreciate this truth, though understanding it brings peace.
3
Surrender to the Supreme Lord takes precedence over secondary injunctions and public opinion. Lord Caitanya’s process of chanting, dancing, feasting and spiritual discussion leads sincere people toward surrender and eternal life with the Lord.

Key points from the purport

It should be pointed out here that Lord Kṛṣṇa is not really the enemy of anyone.
Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s friend, Rukmī could not appreciate this fact and considered Lord Kṛṣṇa his enemy.
Those who are especially envious of God will not appreciate any type of religious movement, and since such persons are themselves little better than animals, they cannot impede the great Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, just as the envious Rukmī could not impede the performance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pure pastimes.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.61.25 quotesBG 5.29

As the Lord states in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati: “One achieves peace by understanding that I am the well-wishing friend of every living being.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

Chapter 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Though Śrī Kṛṣṇa had disrespected Rukmī, to please his sister Rukmī gave his daughter in marriage to Pradyumna, and his granddaughter to Aniruddha. Balī, the son of Kṛtavarmā, married Rukmiṇī’s daughter Cārumatī.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.61

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

dauhitrāyato his daughter’s son
aniruddhāyaAniruddha
pautrīmhis granddaughter
rukmīRukmī
ādadātgave
hareḥtoward Lord Kṛṣṇa
rocanāmnamed Rocanā
baddhabound

Key ideas in this verse

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

Ūti · The creative impetus
Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.61
In this verse: “friend”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.61
In this verse: “chanting”
Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender
Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.61
In this verse: “surrender”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does concern about others’ opinions ever weaken my willingness to surrender to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend a few minutes chanting today, remembering that Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s well-wishing friend.

Live this todaySurrender Comes Before Secondary RulesThis 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.

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