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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 10.83.25-26

Who is speaking and story frame

राजन्येषु निवृत्तेषु भग्नमानेषु मानिषु ।

भगवान् धनुरादाय सज्यं कृत्वाथ लीलया ॥ २५ ॥

तस्मिन् सन्धाय विशिखं मत्स्यं वीक्ष्य सकृज्जले ।

छित्त्वेषुणापातयत्तं सूर्ये चाभिजिति स्थिते ॥ २६ ॥

rājanyeṣu nivṛtteṣu

bhagna-māneṣu māniṣu

bhagavān dhanur ādāya

sajyaṁ kṛtvātha līlayā

tasmin sandhāya viśikhaṁ

matsyaṁ vīkṣya sakṛj jale

chittveṣuṇāpātayat taṁ

sūrye cābhijiti sthite

Translation

After all the arrogant kings had given up, their pride broken, the Supreme Personality of Godhead picked up the bow, easily strung it and then fixed His arrow upon it. As the sun stood in the constellation Abhijit, He looked at the fish in the water only once and then pierced it with the arrow, knocking it to the ground.

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 Effortless Victory Reveals His Greatness

  1. 1

    After the proud kings gave up with their pride broken, the Supreme Personality of Godhead easily strung the bow and fixed His arrow.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa looked at the fish in the water only once, then pierced it and knocked it down.

  3. 3

    The Abhijit period is most auspicious for victory. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that it coincided with high noon that day, making the target harder to see and further emphasizing Kṛṣṇa’s greatness.

Key points from the purport
  • Each day the sun passes once through the lunar constellation Abhijit, marking the period most auspicious for victory.
  • As pointed out by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, on this particular day the muhūrta of Abhijit coincided with high noon, further emphasizing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s greatness by making the target all the more difficult to see.

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:

Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa fixed His arrow on the bow and shot it straight through the target, knocking it to the ground. I placed the victory necklace on Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s neck, but the kings who had failed raised a violent protest.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.83
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājanyeṣuwhen the kings
  2. nivṛtteṣuhad given up
  3. bhagnadefeated
  4. māneṣuwhose pride
  5. māniṣuproud
  6. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  7. dhanuḥthe bow
  8. ādāyataking up
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “pride”, “proud”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “gave up”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s effortless success help you appreciate about His greatness?

Practice

Reread the description of Kṛṣṇa’s shot and spend a quiet moment appreciating Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Effortless Victory Reveals His GreatnessThis 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 10.83.25-26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.