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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 77: Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva
10.77.3210.77.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.77.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śālvasince 10.77.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं शस्‍त्रपूगै: प्रहरन्तमोजसा

शाल्वं शरै: शौरिरमोघविक्रम: ।

विद्ध्वाच्छिनद् वर्म धनु: शिरोमणिं

सौभं च शत्रोर्गदया रुरोज ह ॥ ३३ ॥

taṁ śastra-pūgaiḥ praharantam ojasā

śālvaṁ śaraiḥ śaurir amogha-vikramaḥ

viddhvācchinad varma dhanuḥ śiro-maṇiṁ

saubhaṁ ca śatror gadayā ruroja ha

Translation

While Śālva continued to hurl torrents of weapons at Him with great force, Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose prowess never fails, shot His arrows at Śālva, wounding him and shattering his armor, bow and crest jewel. Then with His club the Lord smashed His enemy’s Saubha airship.

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’s Power Never Fails

  1. 1

    Śālva thought his mystic representations had bewildered Kṛṣṇa, so he attacked with greater strength. The purport compares his enthusiasm to the speedy march of flies into a fire.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s arrows wounded Śālva and shattered his armor, bow and jeweled helmet. The Lord then smashed the Saubha airship with His club.

  3. 3

    Śālva’s insignificant mystic power could not bewilder Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Lord’s unfailing prowess is emphatically demonstrated.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Then Śālva thought that Kṛṣṇa had been bewildered by his mystic representations, he became encouraged and began to attack the Lord with greater strength and energy by showering volumes of arrows upon Him.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa, by hurling His arrows with unfathomable strength, injured Śālva, whose armor, bow and jeweled helmet all scattered into pieces.
  • The fact that Śālva’s insignificant mystic power could not bewilder Lord Kṛṣṇa is here emphatically demonstrated.

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 77: Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus He pierced Śālva with a shower of arrows and struck the Saubha vehicle with His club, demolishing it. Śālva descended from his airplane and rushed toward Lord Kṛṣṇa to attack Him, but the Lord took up His Sudarśana disc and severed Śālva’s head from his body.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.77
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. śastraof weapons
  3. pūgaiḥwith torrents
  4. praharantamattacking
  5. ojasāwith great force
  6. śālvamŚālva
  7. śaraiḥwith His arrows
  8. śauriḥLord Kṛṣṇa
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

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 this account strengthen your confidence in Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Read the translation once slowly, then offer a brief prayer expressing your desire to serve Kṛṣṇa with confidence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Power Never FailsThis 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 10.77.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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