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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 70: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities
10.70.4410.70.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.70.45

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.70.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

तत्र तेष्वात्मपक्षेष्वगृणत्सु विजिगीषया ।

वाच: पेशै: स्मयन् भृत्यमुद्धवं प्राह केशव: ॥ ४५ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

tatra teṣv ātma-pakṣeṣv a-

gṛṇatsu vijigīṣayā

vācaḥ peśaiḥ smayan bhṛtyam

uddhavaṁ prāha keśavaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When His supporters, the Yādavas, objected to this proposal out of eagerness to defeat Jarāsandha, Lord Keśava turned to His servant Uddhava and, smiling, addressed him with fine words.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Kindly Honors His Servant’s Counsel

  1. 1

    The Yādavas were eager to defeat Jarāsandha. Nārada’s proposal that Kṛṣṇa attend Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya sacrifice therefore did not much appeal to them.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa understood His associates’ intentions because He is the ruler of even Lord Brahmā. To pacify them, He smiled and spoke to Uddhava with fine words.

  3. 3

    The Lord also smiled because He was about to demonstrate Uddhava’s brilliant ability to give counsel in difficult situations.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, “Just before the great sage Nārada arrived in the Sudharmā assembly house of Dvārakā, Lord Kṛṣṇa and His ministers and secretaries had been considering how to attack the kingdom of Jarāsandha.
  • Because they were seriously considering this subject, Nārada’s proposal that Lord Kṛṣṇa go to Hastināpura for Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s great Rājasūya sacrifice did not much appeal to them.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the Lord smiled because He was about to demonstrate Uddhava’s brilliant ability to give counsel in difficult situations.

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

War and pride → Justice and protection. The public expression of divine power comes to the foreground.

Chapters 70–79 of Canto 10: Kingship, Jarāsandha and royal challenges. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 70: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Many demigods and illustrious kings will come just to see You.” Understanding that the Yādavas wanted Him to defeat Jarāsandha, Lord Kṛṣṇa asked His wise minister Uddhava to determine which of the two matters at hand — the defeat of Jarāsandha or the Rājasūya sacrifice — should be attended to first.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.70
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tatrathere
  3. teṣuthey (the Yādavas)
  4. ātmaHis own
  5. pakṣeṣusupporters
  6. agṛṇatsunot agreeing
  7. vijigīṣayābecause of their desire to conquer (Jarāsandha)
  8. vācaḥof speech
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “ruler”

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

What do Kṛṣṇa’s smile and kind words show you about how He treats His servants?

Practice

When a disagreement arises today, pause and speak gently rather than adding to the tension.

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 10.70's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Kindly Honors His Servant’s CounselThis 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 10.70.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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