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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.78.410.78.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.78.5

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.78.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वं मातुलेयो न: कृष्ण मित्रध्रुङ्‍मां जिघांससि ।

अतस्त्वां गदया मन्द हनिष्ये वज्रकल्पया ॥ ५ ॥

tvaṁ mātuleyo naḥ kṛṣṇa

mitra-dhruṅ māṁ jighāṁsasi

atas tvāṁ gadayā manda

haniṣye vajra-kalpayā

Translation

“You are our maternal cousin, Kṛṣṇa, but You committed violence against my friends, and now You want to kill me also. Therefore, fool, I will kill You with my thunderbolt club.

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.

An Outward Threat, an Inner Homecoming

  1. 1

    Dantavakra addressed Kṛṣṇa as his maternal cousin but accused Him of violence against his friends. He threatened to kill Him with his thunderbolt club.

  2. 2

    The ācāryas give an alternate grammatical division in which Dantavakra calls Kṛṣṇa amanda, meaning “not foolish.”

  3. 3

    In this inner meaning, Dantavakra acknowledges that Kṛṣṇa’s powerful club will send him back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The ācāryas have given the following alternate grammatical division of the third line of this verse: atas tvāṁ gadayā amanda, in which case Dantavakra says, “My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, You are amanda [not foolish], and therefore with Your powerful club You will now send me back home, back to Godhead.”
  • This is the inner meaning of this verse.

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:

Lord Kṛṣṇa took up His own club and came before him. Dantavakra then insulted the Lord with harsh words and struck Him a terrific blow on the head.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.78
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvamYou
  2. mātuleyaḥmaternal cousin
  3. naḥour
  4. kṛṣṇaO Kṛṣṇa
  5. mitrato my friends
  6. dhrukwho have committed violence
  7. māmme
  8. jighāṁsasiYou wish to kill
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friends”

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 the ācāryas’ explanation change the way I hear this threat?

Practice

Reread the purport’s inner meaning and pause over the words “back home, back to Godhead.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Outward Threat, an Inner HomecomingThis 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 10.78.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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