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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.73.8

Who is speaking and story frame

राजान ऊचु:

नमस्ते देवदेवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराव्यय ।

प्रपन्नान् पाहि न: कृष्ण निर्विण्णान्घोरसंसृते: ॥ ८ ॥

rājāna ūcuḥ

namas te deva-deveśa

prapannārti-harāvyaya

prapannān pāhi naḥ kṛṣṇa

nirviṇṇān ghora-saṁsṛteḥ

Translation

The kings said: Obeisances to You, O Lord of the ruling demigods, O destroyer of Your surrendered devotees’ distress. Since we have surrendered to You, O inexhaustible Kṛṣṇa, please save us from this terrible material life, which has made us so despondent.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa for Shelter

  1. 1

    The kings offered obeisances to Kṛṣṇa as the Lord of the ruling demigods.

  2. 2

    They addressed Him as inexhaustible and as the destroyer of His surrendered devotees’ distress.

  3. 3

    Despondent because of material existence, they declared their surrender. They asked Kṛṣṇa to save them from that terrible material life.

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 73: Lord Kṛṣṇa Blesses the Liberated Kings

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Lord Kṛṣṇa freed the 20,800 kings Jarāsandha had imprisoned, they immediately fell to the ground to pay Him obeisances. Then they stood with joined palms and began to pray to Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.73
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājānaḥ ūcuḥthe kings said
  2. namaḥobeisances
  3. teto You
  4. devaof the demigods
  5. devaof the lords
  6. īśaO Supreme Lord
  7. prapannaof those who are surrendered
  8. ārtiof the distress
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.73

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.73

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.73

    In this verse: “devotees’”

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 would it mean for you to seek Kṛṣṇa’s shelter in your present difficulties?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking Kṛṣṇa for shelter from material existence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa for ShelterThis 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 10.73.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.