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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.78.1-2

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

शिशुपालस्य शाल्वस्य पौण्ड्रकस्यापि दुर्मति: ।

परलोकगतानां च कुर्वन् पारोक्ष्यसौहृदम् ॥ १ ॥

एक: पदाति: सङ्‌क्रुद्धो गदापाणि: प्रकम्पयन् ।

पद्‍भ्यामिमां महाराज महासत्त्वो व्यद‍ृश्यत ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

śiśupālasya śālvasya

pauṇḍrakasyāpi durmatiḥ

para-loka-gatānāṁ ca

kurvan pārokṣya-sauhṛdam

ekaḥ padātiḥ saṅkruddho

gadā-pāṇiḥ prakampayan

padbhyām imāṁ mahā-rāja

mahā-sattvo vyadṛśyata

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Acting out of friendship for Śiśupāla, Śālva and Pauṇḍraka, who had all passed on to the next world, the wicked Dantavakra appeared on the battlefield in a great rage, O King. All alone, on foot and wielding a club in his hand, the mighty warrior shook the earth with his footsteps.

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.

Friendship Misguided by Rage

  1. 1

    Dantavakra acted out of friendship for Śiśupāla, Śālva and Pauṇḍraka, who had passed on to the next world.

  2. 2

    The translation describes him as wicked and filled with great rage. His act of friendship brought him onto the battlefield.

  3. 3

    He approached alone, on foot, carrying a club. His physical strength was so great that his footsteps shook the earth.

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 78: The Killing of Dantavakra, Vidūratha and Romaharṣaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Intent upon avenging the death of his friend Śālva, Dantavakra appeared on the battlefield with club in hand. Lord Kṛṣṇa took up His own club and came before him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.78
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. śiśupālasyafor Śiśupāla
  3. śālvasyaŚālva
  4. pauṇḍrakasyaPauṇḍraka
  5. apialso
  6. durmatiḥevil-hearted (Dantavakra)
  7. para-lokato the next world
  8. gatānāṁwho had gone
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.78

    In this verse: “king”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.78

    In this verse: “friendship”

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

When does loyalty to friends lead me toward anger rather than thoughtful action?

Practice

Before acting on an angry feeling today, pause and consider whether friendship is guiding you wisely.

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.

Live this todayFriendship Misguided by RageThis 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 10.78.1-2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.