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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 10.82.23-26

Who is speaking and story frame

भीष्मो द्रोणोऽम्बिकापुत्रो गान्धारी ससुता तथा ।

सदारा: पाण्डवा: कुन्ती सञ्जयो विदुर: कृप: ॥ २३ ॥

कुन्तीभोजो विराटश्च भीष्मको नग्नजिन्महान् ।

पुरुजिद्‌द्रुपद: शल्यो धृष्टकेतु: सकाशिराट् ॥ २४ ॥

दमघोषो विशालाक्षो मैथिलो मद्रकेकयौ ।

युधामन्यु: सुशर्मा च ससुता बाह्लिकादय: ॥ २५ ॥

राजानो ये च राजेन्द्र युधिष्ठिरमनुव्रता: ।

श्रीनिकेतं वपु: शौरे: सस्‍त्रीकं वीक्ष्य विस्मिता: ॥ २६ ॥

bhīṣmo droṇo ’mbikā-putro

gāndhārī sa-sutā tathā

sa-dārāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kuntī

sañjayo viduraḥ kṛpaḥ

kuntībhojo virāṭaś ca

bhīṣmako nagnajin mahān

purujid drupadaḥ śalyo

dhṛṣṭaketuḥ sa kāśi-rāṭ

damaghoṣo viśālākṣo

maithilo madra-kekayau

yudhāmanyuḥ suśarmā ca

sa-sutā bāhlikādayaḥ

rājāno ye ca rājendra

yudhiṣṭhiram anuvratāḥ

śrī-niketaṁ vapuḥ śaureḥ

sa-strīkaṁ vīkṣya vismitāḥ

Translation

All the royalty present, including Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī and her sons, the Pāṇḍavas and their wives, Kuntī, Sañjaya, Vidura, Kṛpācārya, Kuntībhoja, Virāṭa, Bhīṣmaka, the great Nagnajit, Purujit, Drupada, Śalya, Dhṛṣṭaketu, Kāśirāja, Damaghoṣa, Viśālākṣa, Maithila, Madra, Kekaya, Yudhāmanyu, Suśarmā, Bāhlika with his associates and their sons, and the many other kings subservient to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira — all of them, O best of kings, were simply amazed to see the transcendental form of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the abode of all opulence and beauty, standing before them with His consorts.

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 Beauty Amazes the Assembled Royalty

  1. 1

    The assembled royalty were amazed to see Lord Kṛṣṇa standing before them with His consorts. His transcendental form is the abode of all opulence and beauty.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that these kings had become followers of Yudhiṣṭhira because he had subjugated them to earn the privilege of performing the Rājasūya sacrifice.

  3. 3

    For a kṣatriya seeking elevation to heaven through this sacrifice, the Vedic injunctions require sending out a victory horse. A king whose territory it enters must submit or face battle.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, all these kings were now followers of Yudhiṣṭhira because he had subjugated each of them to earn the privilege of performing the Rājasūya sacrifice.
  • The Vedic injunctions state that a kṣatriya who wants to execute the Rājasūya for elevation to heaven must first send out a “victory horse” to roam freely; any other king whose territory this horse enters must either voluntarily submit or face the kṣatriya or his representatives in battle.

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

Humility and separation → Friendship and reunion. The sweetness of relationship outweighs prestige.

Chapters 80–86 of Canto 10: Sudāmā and reunion with the residents of Vraja. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 82: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The kings present were struck with wonder upon beholding Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His wives, and they began to glorify the Yādavas for having gotten the Lord’s personal association. Seeing Nanda Mahārāja, the Yādavas were delighted, and each of them embraced him tightly.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.82
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhīṣmaḥ droṇaḥ ambikā-putraḥBhīsma, Droṇa and the son of Ambikā (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
  2. gāndhārīGāndhārī
  3. satogether with
  4. sutāḥher sons
  5. tathāalso
  6. sa-dārāḥwith their wives
  7. pāṇḍavāḥthe sons of Pāṇḍu
  8. kuntīKuntī
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.82

    In this verse: “kings”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What draws your attention in the description of Kṛṣṇa as the abode of all opulence and beauty?

Practice

Read the description of Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental form slowly, and spend a minute appreciating His beauty.

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 todayKṛṣṇa’s Beauty Amazes the Assembled RoyaltyThis 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 10.82.23-26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.