1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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 71: The Lord Travels to Indraprastha
10.71.410.71.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.71.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 10.71.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स वै दुर्विषहो राजा नागायुतसमो बले ।

बलिनामपि चान्येषां भीमं समबलं विना ॥ ५ ॥

sa vai durviṣaho rājā

nāgāyuta-samo bale

balinām api cānyeṣāṁ

bhīmaṁ sama-balaṁ vinā

Translation

The invincible King Jarāsandha is as strong as ten thousand elephants. Indeed, other powerful warriors cannot defeat him. Only Bhīma is equal to him in strength.

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.

Eagerness Needs Informed Judgment

  1. 1

    Jarāsandha was as strong as ten thousand elephants. Other powerful warriors could not defeat him; only Bhīma equaled his strength.

  2. 2

    The Yādavas were extremely eager to kill Jarāsandha. Uddhava cautioned them that his death could come only at Bhīma’s hand.

  3. 3

    Uddhava had deduced this from the Jyotīr-rāga and other astrological scriptures learned from his teacher Bṛhaspati.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the Yādavas were extremely eager to kill Jarāsandha, and thus to caution them Śrī Uddhava spoke this verse.
  • Jarāsandha’s death could come only at the hand of Bhīma.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī adds that Uddhava had previously deduced this from the Jyotīr-rāga and other astrological scriptures he had learned from his teacher Bṛhaspati.

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 71: The Lord Travels to Indraprastha

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then, in Your presence, Bhīma will defeat the demon.” Nārada Muni, the Yādava elders and Lord Kṛṣṇa praised Uddhava’s plan, and Lord Kṛṣṇa proceeded to mount His chariot and head for Indraprastha, followed by His devoted queens.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.71
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe, Jarāsandha
  2. vaiindeed
  3. durviṣahaḥinvincible
  4. rājāking
  5. nāgaelephants
  6. ayutato ten thousand
  7. samaḥequal
  8. balein strength
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 10.71

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.71

    In this verse: “death”

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 willing to receive informed caution when I am eager to act?

Practice

Before starting one difficult task today, pause to consider whether your eagerness needs better guidance.

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 10.71's connections

Live this todayEagerness Needs Informed JudgmentThis 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 10.71.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories