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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 66: Pauṇḍraka, the False Vāsudeva
10.66.510.66.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.66.6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:On Pauṇḍraka’s behalf, the messengersince 10.66.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यानि त्वमस्मच्चिह्नानि मौढ्याद् बिभर्षि सात्वत ।

त्यक्त्वैहि मां त्वं शरणं

नो

चेद् देहि ममाहवम् ॥ ६ ॥

yāni tvam asmac-cihnāni

mauḍhyād bibharṣi sātvata

tyaktvaihi māṁ tvaṁ śaraṇaṁ

no ced dehi mamāhavam

Translation

O Sātvata, give up my personal symbols, which out of foolishness You now carry, and come to me for shelter. If You do not, then You must give me battle.

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.

Seek Mercy, Not Imitation

  1. 1

    Pauṇḍraka demanded that Kṛṣṇa give up His symbols and seek his shelter, or else fight him.

  2. 2

    According to Sarasvatī’s inspiration, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī reads these words as an admission that Pauṇḍraka had foolishly assumed an imitation conchshell, disc, lotus and club.

  3. 3

    Their deeper meaning is a request for Kṛṣṇa to mercifully remove those imitation symbols and grant Pauṇḍraka liberation by killing him in battle.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus they may be understood to mean “Out of foolishness I have assumed an imitation conchshell, disc, lotus and club, and You are maintaining these by allowing me to use them.
  • Therefore please mercifully come and liberate me by forcing me to give them up.
  • Give me battle, and grant me liberation by killing me.”

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 66: Pauṇḍraka, the False Vāsudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus he challenged Lord Kṛṣṇa with the following message: “Since I alone am the true Personality of Godhead, You should give up Your false claim to this position, as well as my divine symbols, and take shelter of me. If You do not, then prepare for battle.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.66
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāniwhich
  2. tvamYou
  3. asmatour
  4. cihnānisymbols
  5. mauḍhyātout of delusion
  6. bibharṣicarry
  7. sātvataO chief of the Sātvatas
  8. tyaktvāgiving up
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.66

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.66

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.66

    In this verse: “mercifully”

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

Am I seeking Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, or trying to imitate His position?

Practice

Ask Kṛṣṇa for help giving up the desire to imitate Him.

Live this todaySeek Mercy, Not ImitationThis 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 10.66.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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