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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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees
10.86.110.86.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.86.2-3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.86.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

अर्जुनस्तीर्थयात्रायां पर्यटन्नवनीं प्रभु: ।

गत: प्रभासमश‍ृणोन्मातुलेयीं स आत्मन: ॥ २ ॥

दुर्योधनाय रामस्तां दास्यतीति न चापरे ।

तल्लिप्सु: स यतिर्भूत्वा त्रिदण्डी द्वारकामगात् ॥ ३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

arjunas tīrtha-yātrāyāṁ

paryaṭann avanīṁ prabhuḥ

gataḥ prabhāsam aśṛṇon

mātuleyīṁ sa ātmanaḥ

duryodhanāya rāmas tāṁ

dāsyatīti na cāpare

tal-lipsuḥ sa yatir bhūtvā

tri-daṇḍī dvārakām agāt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: While traveling far and wide visiting various holy places of pilgrimage, Arjuna came to Prabhāsa. There he heard that Lord Balarāma intended to give his maternal cousin Subhadrā to Duryodhana in marriage, and that no one else approved of this plan. Arjuna wanted to marry her himself, so he disguised himself as a renunciant, complete with triple staff, and went to Dvārakā.

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 Encourages Arjuna’s Unconventional Plan

  1. 1

    While visiting holy places, Arjuna reached Prabhāsa and heard that Lord Balarāma intended Subhadrā to marry Duryodhana.

  2. 2

    Arjuna wanted to marry her himself, so he went to Dvārakā disguised as a renunciant carrying a triple staff.

  3. 3

    His plan was unconventional, but Lord Kṛṣṇa was its chief supporter. Most of the royal family, especially Vasudeva, were unhappy about the proposed marriage to Duryodhana.

Key points from the purport
  • Arjuna’s plan for obtaining Subhadrā as his wife may have seemed unconventional, but he was not acting without encouragement; in fact, Lord Kṛṣṇa was his prime co-conspirator.
  • And in Dvārakā, most of the members of the royal family, especially Vasudeva, were unhappy about giving their favorite daughter to Duryodhana.

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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When King Parīkṣit desired to learn about the marriage of his grandmother, Subhadrā-devī, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said, “While touring on pilgrimage, Arjuna heard that Lord Baladeva intended to give the hand of His sister Subhadrā to Duryodhana in marriage. Wanting to kidnap Subhadrā and marry her himself, Arjuna disguised himself as a renunciant and went to Dvārakā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. arjunaḥArjuna
  3. tīrthato holy places
  4. yātrāyāmwhile on pilgrimage
  5. paryaṭanwandering
  6. avanīmthe earth
  7. prabhuḥthe great lord
  8. gataḥhaving gone
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “heard”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s encouragement affect your understanding of Arjuna’s plan?

Practice

List the proposed marriage and the alternative Arjuna hoped for, noting Kṛṣṇa’s support.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Encourages Arjuna’s Unconventional PlanThis 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 10.86.2-3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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