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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 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 2 · Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions
2.7.332.7.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 2.7.34-35

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.7.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

ये च प्रलम्बखरदर्दुरकेश्यरिष्ट-

मल्लेभकंसयवना: कपिपौण्ड्रकाद्या: ।

अन्ये च शाल्वकुजबल्वलदन्तवक्र-

सप्तोक्षशम्बरविदूरथरुक्‍मिमुख्या: ॥ ३४ ॥

ये वा मृधे समितिशालिन आत्तचापा:

काम्बोजमत्स्यकुरुसृञ्जयकैकयाद्या: ।

यास्यन्त्यदर्शनमलं बलपार्थभीम-

व्याजाह्वयेन हरिणा निलयं तदीयम् ॥ ३५ ॥

ye ca pralamba-khara-dardura-keśy-ariṣṭa-

mallebha-kaṁsa-yavanāḥ kapi-pauṇḍrakādyāḥ

anye ca śālva-kuja-balvala-dantavakra-

saptokṣa-śambara-vidūratha-rukmi-mukhyāḥ

ye vā mṛdhe samiti-śālina ātta-cāpāḥ

kāmboja-matsya-kuru-sṛñjaya-kaikayādyāḥ

yāsyanty adarśanam alaṁ bala-pārtha-bhīma-

vyājāhvayena hariṇā nilayaṁ tadīyam

Translation

All demonic personalities like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Baka, Keśī, Ariṣṭa, Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kuvalayāpīḍa elephant, Kaṁsa, Yavana, Narakāsura and Pauṇḍraka, great marshals like Śālva, Dvivida monkey and Balvala, Dantavakra, the seven bulls, Śambara, Vidūratha and Rukmī, as also great warriors like Kāmboja, Matsya, Kuru, Sṛñjaya and Kekaya, would all fight vigorously, either with the Lord Hari directly or with Him under His names of Baladeva, Arjuna, Bhīma, etc. And the demons, thus being killed, would attain either the impersonal brahmajyoti or His personal abode in the Vaikuṇṭha planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Even Kṛṣṇa's Enemies Receive Spiritual Benefit

  1. 1

    All manifestations in the material and spiritual worlds demonstrate Lord Kṛṣṇa's different potencies. Baladeva is His immediate personal expansion, while Arjuna and Bhīma are His personal associates.

  2. 2

    Those killed by the Lord or His associates attained release from material existence. Those who recognized Him entered Vaikuṇṭha; those who regarded Him only as powerful entered His impersonal brahmajyoti.

  3. 3

    Their spiritual destination depended on their state of mind at death. If even those who opposed the Lord received such benefit, consider the position of those who devoutly serve Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore the rebellious souls, like the demons and demoniac men, mentioned by names like Pralamba, would be killed either by the Lord Himself or by His associates.
  • But we should know well that all the above-mentioned living entities killed would attain salvation either by being merged in the brahmajyoti of the Lord or being allowed to enter into the abodes of the Lord called Vaikuṇṭhas.
  • Those who recognized the Lord would enter Vaikuṇṭha, and those who estimated the Lord as only a powerful being would attain salvation by merging into the spiritual existence of the impersonal brahmajyoti of the Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Uncertainty → Awe. The scale of reality widens dramatically.

Chapters 4–7 of Canto 2: The creation, cosmic Person and incarnations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

Brahmā recounts the Lord’s incarnations and explains that unalloyed surrender enables one to understand Him.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yeall those
  2. catotally
  3. pralambathe demon named Pralamba
  4. kharaDhenukāsura
  5. darduraBakāsura
  6. keśīthe Keśī demon
  7. ariṣṭathe demon Ariṣṭāsura
  8. mallaa wrestler in the court of Kaṁsa
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “death”

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 the benefit received by the Lord's enemies suggest about the value of serving Him with devotion?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on the purport's closing comparison, and renew your intention to serve Kṛṣṇa devoutly.

5

The story around it

The stories 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 2.7's connections

Live this todayEven Kṛṣṇa's Enemies Receive Spiritual BenefitThis 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.

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