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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 64: The Deliverance of King Nṛga
10.64.1810.64.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.64.19-20

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Nṛgasince 10.64.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अनुनीतावुभौ विप्रौ धर्मकृच्छ्रगतेन वै ।

गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥

भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानत: ।

समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥

anunītāv ubhau viprau

dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai

gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ

dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām

bhavantāv anugṛhṇītāṁ

kiṅkarasyāvijānataḥ

samuddharataṁ māṁ kṛcchrāt

patantaṁ niraye ’śucau

Translation

Finding myself in a terrible dilemma concerning my duty in the situation, I humbly entreated both the brāhmaṇas: “I will give one hundred thousand of the best cows in exchange for this one. Please give her back to me. Your good selves should be merciful to me, your servant. I did not know what I was doing. Please save me from this difficult situation, or I’ll surely fall into a filthy hell.”

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Humbly Seek to Repair a Wrong

  1. 1

    Nṛga found himself in a terrible dilemma concerning his duty. He humbly appealed to both brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    He offered one hundred thousand of the best cows in exchange for the disputed cow and asked that she be returned to him.

  3. 3

    Calling himself their servant, he asked for mercy because he had acted unknowingly. He feared falling into a filthy hell and begged to be saved.

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 64: The Deliverance of King Nṛga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After quarreling for some time they approached me, and I implored them to each take one hundred thousand cows in exchange for that one cow, and to please forgive me for the offense I had unknowingly committed. But neither brāhmaṇa would accept my proposal, and the matter remained unsettled.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.64
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anunītauhumbly requested
  2. ubhauboth
  3. viprauthe two brāhmaṇas
  4. dharmaof religious duty
  5. kṛcchraa difficult situation
  6. gatenaby (me) who was in
  7. vaiindeed
  8. gavāmof cows
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.64

    In this verse: “merciful”, “mercy”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.64

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.64

    In this verse: “feared”

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

Can I acknowledge an unintentional wrong and humbly seek to repair it?

Practice

For one mistake you have made, offer a sincere apology and one concrete way to make amends.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumbly Seek to Repair a WrongThis 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 10.64.19-20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.