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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 83: Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa
10.83.2210.83.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.83.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Lakṣmaṇāsince 10.83.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सज्यं कृत्वापरे वीरा मागधाम्बष्ठचेदिपा: ।

भीमो दुर्योधन: कर्णो नाविदंस्तदवस्थितिम् ॥ २३ ॥

sajyaṁ kṛtvāpare vīrā

māgadhāmbaṣṭha-cedipāḥ

bhīmo duryodhanaḥ karṇo

nāvidaṁs tad-avasthitim

Translation

A few heroes — namely Jarāsandha, Śiśupāla, Bhīma, Duryodhana, Karṇa and the King of Ambaṣṭha — succeeded in stringing the bow, but none of them could find the target.

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.

Physical Strength Alone Was Not Enough

  1. 1

    Jarāsandha, Śiśupāla, Bhīma, Duryodhana, Karṇa and the King of Ambaṣṭha succeeded in stringing the bow.

  2. 2

    Although they completed this part of the challenge, none could find the target.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that these kings were very strong physically, but they lacked the skill needed to find the target.

Key points from the purport
  • These kings were very strong physically, but they were not skillful enough to find the target.

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 83: Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Finally, Jāmbavān understood that Kṛṣṇa was none other than Lord Rāmacandra, his worshipable Lord. Thus he gave Kṛṣṇa the Syamantaka jewel, along with me.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.83
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sajyamstrung
  2. kṛtvāmaking (the bow)
  3. apareother
  4. vīrāḥheroes
  5. māgadhathe King of Magadha (Jarāsandha)
  6. ambaṣṭhathe King of Ambaṣṭha
  7. cedi-pāḥthe ruler of Cedi (Śiśupāla)
  8. bhīmaḥ duryodhanaḥ karṇaḥBhīma, Duryodhana and Karṇa
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 10.83

    In this verse: “king”

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

Where might I be relying on strength without recognizing the skill a task requires?

Practice

Choose one task today and identify a specific skill you need, rather than simply trying harder.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.83's connections

Live this todayPhysical Strength Alone Was Not EnoughThis 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 10.83.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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