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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 10.79.3-4

Who is speaking and story frame

तं विलोक्य बृहत्कायं भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमम् ।

तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीमुखम् ॥ ३ ॥

सस्मार मूषलं राम: परसैन्यविदारणम् ।

हलं च दैत्यदमनं ते तूर्णमुपतस्थतु: ॥ ४ ॥

taṁ vilokya bṛhat-kāyaṁ

bhinnāñjana-cayopamam

tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśruṁ

daṁṣṭrogra-bhru-kuṭī-mukham

sasmāra mūṣalaṁ rāmaḥ

para-sainya-vidāraṇam

halaṁ ca daitya-damanaṁ

te tūrṇam upatasthatuḥ

Translation

The immense demon resembled a mass of black carbon. His topknot and beard were like molten copper, and his face had horrible fangs and furrowed eyebrows. Upon seeing him, Lord Balarāma thought of His club, which tears to pieces His enemies’ armies, and His plow weapon, which punishes the demons. Thus summoned, His two weapons appeared before Him at once.

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.

The Lord Summons His Weapons

  1. 1

    The immense demon resembled black carbon, with a copper-colored topknot and beard, horrible fangs and furrowed eyebrows.

  2. 2

    Seeing him, Lord Balarāma thought of His club, which tears apart enemy armies, and His plow, which punishes demons.

  3. 3

    Both weapons appeared before Him at once when He summoned them.

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 79: Lord Balarāma Goes on Pilgrimage

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The demon Balvala then appeared there with a trident in his hand, his massive body pitch black and his face very frightening. Lord Baladeva caught the demon with His plow and then struck him a ferocious blow on the head with His club, killing him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.79
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim
  2. vilokyaseeing
  3. bṛhatimmense
  4. kāyamwhose body
  5. bhinnabroken
  6. añjanaof black eye-makeup
  7. cayaa pile
  8. upamamresembling
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 immediate appearance of His weapons reveal about Lord Balarāma’s power?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering Lord Balarāma and the readiness of His divine weapons.

Live this todayThe Lord Summons His WeaponsThis 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 10.79.3-4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.