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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 68: The Marriage of Sāmba
10.68.810.68.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.68.9-10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The angry Kurussince 10.68.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विस्फूर्ज्य रुचिरं चापं सर्वान् विव्याध सायकै: ।

कर्णादीन् षड्रथान् वीरस्तावद्भ‍िर्युगपत् पृथक् ॥ ९ ॥

चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहानेकैकेन च सारथीन् ।

रथिनश्च महेष्वासांस्तस्य तत्तेऽभ्यपूजयन् ॥ १० ॥

visphūrjya ruciraṁ cāpaṁ

sarvān vivyādha sāyakaiḥ

karṇādīn ṣaḍ rathān vīras

tāvadbhir yugapat pṛthak

caturbhiś caturo vāhān

ekaikena ca sārathīn

rathinaś ca maheṣvāsāṁs

tasya tat te ’bhyapūjayan

Translation

Twanging his wonderful bow, heroic Sāmba struck with arrows the six warriors headed by Karṇa. He pierced the six chariots with as many arrows, each team of four horses with four arrows, and each chariot driver with a single arrow, and he similarly struck the great bowmen who commanded the chariots. The enemy warriors congratulated Sāmba for this display of prowess.

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.

Even Opponents Recognize Sāmba’s Prowess

  1. 1

    Heroic Sāmba fought alone against six great warriors headed by Karṇa.

  2. 2

    With carefully directed arrows, he struck their chariots, horses, drivers and the great bowmen themselves.

  3. 3

    Even while fighting him, his enemies congratulated him. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that they frankly appreciated his inconceivable potency and admitted that he was wonderful.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “While Sāmba was so diligently fighting alone with the six great warriors, they all appreciated the inconceivable potency of the boy.
  • Even in the midst of fighting, they admitted frankly that this boy Sāmba was wonderful.”

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 68: The Marriage of Sāmba

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After Sāmba held them off single-handedly for some time, six warriors of the Kaurava party deprived him of his chariot, broke his bow to pieces, seized him, tied him up and brought both him and Lakṣmaṇā back to Hastināpura. When King Ugrasena heard of Sāmba’s capture, he called upon the Yādavas to retaliate.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.68
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. visphūrjyatwanging
  2. ruciramattractive
  3. cāpamhis bow
  4. sarvānall of them
  5. vivyādhahe pierced
  6. sāyakaiḥwith his arrows
  7. karṇa-ādīnKarṇa and the others
  8. ṣaṭsix
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

Can I honestly appreciate a good quality in someone who opposes me?

Practice

Acknowledge one genuine strength in someone with whom you disagree.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEven Opponents Recognize Sāmba’s ProwessThis 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 10.68.9-10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.