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 72: The Slaying of the Demon Jarāsandha
10.72.1-210.72.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.72.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 10.72.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच

क्रतुराजेन गोविन्द राजसूयेन पावनी: ।

यक्ष्ये विभूतीर्भवतस्तत् सम्पादय न: प्रभो ॥ ३ ॥

śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca

kratu-rājena govinda

rājasūyena pāvanīḥ

yakṣye vibhūtīr bhavatas

tat sampādaya naḥ prabho

Translation

Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira said: O Govinda, I desire to worship Your auspicious, opulent expansions by the Rājasūya sacrifice, the king of Vedic ceremonies. Please make our endeavor a success, my Lord.

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.

Honor Kṛṣṇa as Everyone’s Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Yudhiṣṭhira wished to perform the Rājasūya, the king of sacrifices, and asked Lord Kṛṣṇa to make it successful.

  2. 2

    The demigods and other empowered beings are Kṛṣṇa’s opulent expansions within this world. They have no power independent of Him.

  3. 3

    The Pāṇḍavas were fully satisfied as Kṛṣṇa’s devotees and had nothing to ask from the demigods. Yudhiṣṭhira wanted to establish that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and everyone is His servant.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī states that the word vibhūtīḥ refers to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s expansions (aṁśān), and Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura further explains that here the word vibhūtīḥ refers to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s opulent expansions within this world, such as the demigods and other empowered beings.
  • Thus Śrīla Prabhupāda treats this verse as follows in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, the sacrifice known as the Rājasūya- yajña is to be performed by the emperor, and it is considered to be the king of all sacrifices.
  • I wish to invite all the demigods, beginning from Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and other exalted chiefs of the heavenly planets, and in that great assembly of the demigods from all parts of the universe, I want to substantiate that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that everyone is Your servant.”

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 72: The Slaying of the Demon Jarāsandha

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day King Yudhiṣṭhira addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa as He sat in the royal assembly: “My Lord, I wish to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. In this sacrifice people uninterested in Your devotional service will be able to see firsthand the superiority of Your devotees and the inferiority of nondevotees.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.72
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvācaŚrī Yudhiṣṭhira said
  2. kratuof major fire sacrifices
  3. rājenawith the king
  4. govindaO Kṛṣṇa
  5. rājasūyenanamed Rājasūya
  6. pāvanīḥpurifying
  7. yakṣyeI wish to worship
  8. vibhūtīḥthe opulent expansions
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.72

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.72

    In this verse: “king”

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

Is my worship directed toward material gain or toward honoring Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, ask Kṛṣṇa to help you perform it for His satisfaction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Kṛṣṇa as Everyone’s Supreme LordThis 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 10.72.3? 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