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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī’s Sons
10.85.4710.85.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.85.48-49

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.85.47inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तेनासुरीमगन् योनिमधुनावद्यकर्मणा ।

हिरण्यकशिपोर्जाता नीतास्ते योगमायया ॥ ४८ ॥

देवक्या उदरे जाता राजन् कंसविहिंसिता: ।

सा तान् शोचत्यात्मजान् स्वांस्त इमेऽध्यासतेऽन्तिके ॥ ४९ ॥

tenāsurīm agan yonim

adhunāvadya-karmaṇā

hiraṇyakaśipor jātā

nītās te yoga-māyayā

devakyā udare jātā

rājan kaṁsa-vihiṁsitāḥ

sā tān śocaty ātmajān svāṁs

ta ime ’dhyāsate ’ntike

Translation

Because of that improper act, they immediately entered a demoniac form of life, and thus they took birth as sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu. The goddess Yoga-māyā then took them away from Hiraṇyakaśipu, and they were born again from Devakī’s womb. After this, O King, Kaṁsa murdered them. Devakī still laments for them, thinking of them as her sons. These same sons of Marīci are now living here with you.

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.

Improper Actions Bring Painful Consequences

  1. 1

    Because of their improper act, Marīci’s sons entered a demoniac form of life and were born as sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

  2. 2

    Śrīdhara Svāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī explain that Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā then brought them through another life as children of Kālanemi before transferring them to Devakī’s womb.

  3. 3

    Kaṁsa murdered them, and Devakī continued to lament for them as her sons. The Lord explains that these same sons are now living with Bali.

Key points from the purport
  • Ācāryas Śrīdhara Svāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī explain that after taking Marīci’s six sons from Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā first made them pass through one more life as children of another great demon, Kālanemi, and then she finally transferred them to the womb of Devakī.

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 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī’s Sons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Bali greeted Them respectfully, offering Them seats of honor, worshiping Them and reciting prayers. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then requested Bali to return Devakī’s dead sons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.85
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tenaby that
  2. āsurīmdemoniac
  3. aganthey entered
  4. yonima womb
  5. adhunāimmediately
  6. avadyaimproper
  7. karmaṇāby the act
  8. hiraṇyakaśipoḥto Hiraṇyakaśipu
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “laments”, “lament”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.85

    In this verse: “children”

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 this account encourage you to take the consequences of your actions seriously?

Practice

Before one action today, pause to consider whether it could cause someone sorrow.

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 10.85's connections

Live this todayImproper Actions Bring Painful ConsequencesThis 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 10.85.48-49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.