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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī
10.61.210.61.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.61.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.61.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

चार्वब्जकोशवदनायतबाहुनेत्र-

सप्रेमहासरसवीक्षितवल्गुजल्पै: ।

सम्मोहिता भगवतो न मनो विजेतुं

स्वैर्विभ्रमै: समशकन् वनिता विभूम्न: ॥ ३ ॥

cārv-abja-kośa-vadanāyata-bāhu-netra-

sa-prema-hāsa-rasa-vīkṣita-valgu-jalpaiḥ

sammohitā bhagavato na mano vijetuṁ

svair vibhramaiḥ samaśakan vanitā vibhūmnaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Lord’s wives were fully enchanted by His lovely, lotuslike face, His long arms and large eyes, His loving glances imbued with laughter, and His charming talks with them. But with all their charms these ladies could not conquer the mind of the all-powerful Lord.

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.

The Supreme Lord Is Full in Himself

  1. 1

    The Lord’s wives were enchanted by His lotuslike face, long arms, large eyes, loving glances and charming talks.

  2. 2

    Yet all their charms could not conquer the mind of the all-powerful Lord.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that the Lord is all-powerful, full in Himself and possessed of infinite opulence.

Key points from the purport
  • The previous verse stated that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens could not understand the truth of the Lord.
  • This truth is explained in the present verse.
  • The Lord is all-powerful, full in Himself, with infinite opulence.

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 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

They were all entranced by the Lord’s beauty and His loving conversations with them, but they could not agitate His mind with the charming gestures of their eyebrows or by any other means. Having attained as their husband Lord Kṛṣṇa, whom even demigods like Brahmā find it difficult to know in truth, the Lord’s queens were always eager to associate with Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.61
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. cārubeautiful
  2. abjaof a lotus
  3. kośa(like) the whorl
  4. vadanaby His face
  5. āyataextended
  6. bāhuby His arms
  7. netraand eyes
  8. sa-premaloving
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.61

    In this verse: “lovely”

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 knowing that Kṛṣṇa is full in Himself shape your understanding of His loving exchanges?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as full in Himself.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Is Full in HimselfThis 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 10.61.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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