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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 64: The Deliverance of King Nṛga
10.64.19-2010.64.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.64.21

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Nṛgasince 10.64.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नाहं प्रतीच्छे वै राजन्नित्युक्त्वा स्वाम्यपाक्रमत् ।

नान्यद् गवामप्ययुतमिच्छामीत्यपरो ययौ ॥ २१ ॥

nāhaṁ pratīcche vai rājann

ity uktvā svāmy apākramat

nānyad gavām apy ayutam

icchāmīty aparo yayau

Translation

The present owner of the cow said, “I don’t want anything in exchange for this cow, O King,” and went away. The other brāhmaṇa declared, “I don’t want even ten thousand more cows [than you are offering],” and he too went away.

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.

Compensation May Not Resolve a Dispute

  1. 1

    The present owner refused anything in exchange for the cow and went away.

  2. 2

    The other brāhmaṇa refused even ten thousand cows beyond the King’s offer and also left.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that both brāhmaṇas left in anger. Each thought that his lawful possession had been usurped.

Key points from the purport
  • In Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Thus disagreeing with the King’s proposal, both brāhmaṇas left the palace in anger, thinking that their lawful possession had been usurped.”

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 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. nanot
  2. ahamI
  3. pratīcchewant
  4. vaiindeed
  5. rājanO King
  6. itithus
  7. uktvāsaying
  8. svāmīthe owner
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.64

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

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

Do I assume that my offer of compensation must satisfy someone who feels wronged?

Practice

When making amends today, ask what remains unresolved rather than assuming your offer is enough.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompensation May Not Resolve a DisputeThis 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 10.64.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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