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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 78: The Killing of Dantavakra, Vidūratha and Romaharṣaṇa
10.78.1-210.78.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.78.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.78.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं तथायान्तमालोक्य गदामादाय सत्वर: ।

अवप्लुत्य रथात् कृष्ण: सिन्धुं वेलेव प्रत्यधात् ॥ ३ ॥

taṁ tathāyāntam ālokya

gadām ādāya satvaraḥ

avaplutya rathāt kṛṣṇaḥ

sindhuṁ veleva pratyadhāt

Translation

Seeing Dantavakra approach, Lord Kṛṣṇa quickly picked up His club, jumped down from His chariot and stopped His advancing opponent just as the shore holds back the ocean.

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 Checks the Furious Advance

  1. 1

    Seeing Dantavakra approach, Lord Kṛṣṇa quickly took up His club and jumped down from His chariot.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Dantavakra’s heroic march was immediately stopped when Kṛṣṇa appeared before him.

  3. 3

    The Lord checked His opponent just as the beach stops the great, furious waves of the ocean.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “When Kṛṣṇa appeared before Dantavakra, his heroic march was immediately stopped, just as the great furious waves of the ocean are stopped by the beach.”

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 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. tamhim
  2. tathāin this way
  3. āyāntamapproaching
  4. ālokyaseeing
  5. gadāmHis club
  6. ādāyataking
  7. satvaraḥquickly
  8. avaplutyaleaping down
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

What does the image of the shore holding back the ocean help me appreciate about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read the verse slowly once, then spend a moment remembering how firmly Kṛṣṇa stopped Dantavakra.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Checks the Furious AdvanceThis 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 10.78.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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