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

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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 74: The Deliverance of Śiśupāla at the Rājasūya Sacrifice
10.74.3610.74.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.74.37

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śiśupālasince 10.74.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितान् देशान् हित्वैतेऽब्रह्मवर्चसम् ।

समुद्रं दुर्गमाश्रित्य बाधन्ते दस्यव: प्रजा: ॥ ३७ ॥

brahmarṣi-sevitān deśān

hitvaite ’brahma-varcasam

samudraṁ durgam āśritya

bādhante dasyavaḥ prajāḥ

Translation

These Yādavas have abandoned the holy lands inhabited by saintly sages and have instead taken shelter of a fortress in the sea, a place where no brahminical principles are observed. There, just like thieves, they harass their subjects.

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.

Resentment Leads to Irresponsible Speech

  1. 1

    Śiśupāla accused the Yādavas of leaving holy lands and harassing their subjects from a fortress in the sea.

  2. 2

    The purport identifies the holy lands inhabited by saintly sages as the district of Mathurā.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Śiśupāla became overwhelmed by anger because Kṛṣṇa had been chosen for the first worship. He spoke so irresponsibly that he appeared to have lost all good fortune.

Key points from the purport
  • The words brahmarṣi-sevitān deśān (“holy lands inhabited by saintly sages”) allude to the district of Mathurā.
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Śiśupāla went crazy because of Kṛṣṇa’s being elected the supreme, first worshiped person in that meeting, and he spoke so irresponsibly that it appeared that he had lost all his good fortune.”

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 74: The Deliverance of Śiśupāla at the Rājasūya Sacrifice

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He follows no principles of religion and has no good qualities.” Even as Śiśupāla continued to blaspheme Him in this way, Lord Kṛṣṇa remained silent.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.74
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahma-ṛṣiby great brāhmaṇa sages
  2. sevitāngraced
  3. deśānlands (like Mathurā)
  4. hitvāabandoning
  5. etethese (Yādavas)
  6. abrahma-varcasamwhere brahminical principles are not observed
  7. samudramthe ocean
  8. durgama fortress
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.74

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.74

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.74

    In this verse: “worship”

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

How does resentment affect the care I take with my words?

Practice

If resentment arises today, pause before speaking rather than turning it into an accusation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayResentment Leads to Irresponsible SpeechThis 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 10.74.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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