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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 63: Lord Kṛṣṇa Fights with Bāṇāsura
10.63.510.63.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.63.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.63.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

बाणार्थे भगवान् रुद्र: ससुत: प्रमथैर्वृत: ।

आरुह्य नन्दिवृषभं युयुधे रामकृष्णयो: ॥ ६ ॥

bāṇārthe bhagavān rudraḥ

sa-sutaḥ pramathair vṛtaḥ

āruhya nandi-vṛṣabhaṁ

yuyudhe rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

Translation

Lord Rudra, accompanied by his son Kārtikeya and the Pramathas, came riding on Nandi, his bull carrier, to fight Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa on Bāṇa’s behalf.

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.

Śiva’s Battle Reveals Kṛṣṇa’s Supreme Glory

  1. 1

    Lord Rudra came on Nandi with Kārtikeya and the Pramathas to fight on Bāṇa’s behalf. Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śiva knew Kṛṣṇa’s greatness and his own coming defeat, yet fought to demonstrate the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s glories.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Śiva fought to increase Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure and enthusiasm. He also wished to show that Kṛṣṇa, despite His humanlike pastimes, is superior to other avatāras.

  3. 3

    Yoga-māyā, Kṛṣṇa’s internal potency, bewildered Śiva and made him enthusiastic to battle the Lord. Her work is to make fine arrangements for Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī states that the word bhagavān is used here to indicate that Lord Śiva is by nature all-knowing and thus well aware of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s greatness.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura states that Lord Śiva entered the battle for two reasons: first, to increase Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure and enthusiasm; and second, to demonstrate that the Lord’s incarnation as Kṛṣṇa, although enacting humanlike pastimes, is superior to other avatāras, such as Lord Rāmacandra.
  • Of course, Yoga-māyā’s job is to make fine arrangements for the Lord’s pastimes, and thus Śiva became enthusiastic to battle the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.

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 63: Lord Kṛṣṇa Fights with Bāṇāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

To help Bāṇāsura, Lord Śiva, accompanied by Kārtikeya and a horde of mystic sages, took up arms against Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa. Bāṇa began fighting against Sātyaki, and Bāṇa’s son fought against Sāmba.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.63
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bāṇa-arthefor Bāṇa’s sake
  2. bhagavān rudraḥLord Śiva
  3. sa-sutaḥtogether with his son (Kārtikeya, the general of the demigods’ army)
  4. pramathaiḥby the Pramathas (mystic sages who always attend Lord Śiva, appearing in a multitude of forms)
  5. vṛtaḥaccompanied
  6. āruhyariding
  7. nandion Nandi
  8. vṛṣabhamhis bull
  9. yuyudhehe fought
  10. rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥwith Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa
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

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 change your understanding of Śiva’s apparent opposition to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking that your devotional service contribute to Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 10.63's connections

Live this todayŚiva’s Battle Reveals Kṛṣṇa’s Supreme GloryThis 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 10.63.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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