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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 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī
10.61.3110.61.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.61.32

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

तं चापि जितवान् रामो धर्मेण छलमाश्रित: ।

रुक्‍मी जितं मयात्रेमे वदन्तु प्राश्न‍िका इति ॥ ३२ ॥

taṁ cāpi jitavān rāmo

dharmeṇa chalam āśritaḥ

rukmī jitaṁ mayātreme

vadantu prāśnikā iti

Translation

Lord Balarāma fairly won this wager also, but Rukmī again resorted to cheating and declared, “I have won! Let these witnesses here say what they saw.”

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.

Friendship Must Not Support Cheating

  1. 1

    Lord Balarāma fairly won this wager also, but Rukmī again falsely claimed victory.

  2. 2

    Rukmī called on the witnesses to say what they had seen. The purport explains that he undoubtedly had his friends in mind.

  3. 3

    His witnesses prepared to help their cheating friend. Their intended support stood against Lord Balarāma’s fair victory.

Key points from the purport
  • Rukmī undoubtedly had his friends in mind when he called for the witnesses to speak.
  • But even as his witnesses prepared to aid their cheating friend, a wonderful event took place, as described in the next verse.

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:

But Rukmī, encouraged by the wicked kings, offended Lord Baladeva by saying that while He was certainly expert at tending cows, He knew nothing of playing dice. Thus insulted, Lord Baladeva angrily struck Rukmī dead with His club.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.61
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamthat
  2. ca apialso
  3. jitavānwon
  4. rāmaḥLord Balarāma
  5. dharmeṇafairly
  6. chalamdeceit
  7. āśritaḥresorting to
  8. rukmīRukmī
3

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: “friends”

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

Would I speak truthfully even if a friend wanted me to support a false claim?

Practice

When describing an event today, report what you actually observed rather than what favors someone you like.

Live this todayFriendship Must Not Support CheatingThis 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 10.61.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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