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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 1 · Chapter 10: Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā

1.10.26 1.10.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.10.27

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.10.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अहो बत स्वर्यशसस्तिरस्करी

कुशस्थली पुण्ययशस्करी भुव: ।

पश्यन्ति नित्यं यदनुग्रहेषितं

स्मितावलोकं स्वपतिं स्म यत्प्रजा: ॥ २७ ॥

aho bata svar-yaśasas tiraskarī

kuśasthalī puṇya-yaśaskarī bhuvaḥ

paśyanti nityaṁ yad anugraheṣitaṁ

smitāvalokaṁ sva-patiṁ sma yat-prajāḥ

Translation

Undoubtedly it is wonderful that Dvārakā has defeated the glories of the heavenly planets and has enhanced the celebrity of the earth. The inhabitants of Dvārakā are always seeing the soul of all living beings [Kṛṣṇa] in His loving feature. He glances at them and favors them with sweet smiles.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Association Surpasses Heavenly Enjoyment

1
Dvārakā surpasses the heavenly planets because its inhabitants constantly see Kṛṣṇa’s loving features and receive His sweet smiles. Heavenly enjoyment ends when one’s acquired virtue is exhausted.
2
The Lord is the soul of all living beings and desires their participation in transcendental life in His association. His favor brings one into the kingdom of God, from which no one returns.
3
Vṛndāvana, Mathurā and Dvārakā are perpetually holy, and devotional service there is magnified. Because the Lord and His abode are identical, a pure devotee can obtain the same results even now under an experienced devotee’s guidance.

Key points from the purport

Six months on earth is equal to one day on the heavenly planets.
Considering all this, the heavenly planets are more celebrated than the earth.
But the celebrity of earth has defeated that of the heavenly planets because of Dvārakā, where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa reigned as King.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.10.27 quotesBG 9.20

The heavenly planets may be very famous for offering better facilities of material enjoyment, but as we learn from the Bhagavad-gītā (9.20-21), one has to come back again to the earth planet as soon as the acquired virtue is finished.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Longing → Joy and continuity. Departure and welcome coexist; Parīkṣit embodies continuity of grace.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 1: Kṛṣṇa returns to Dvārakā; Parīkṣit is born. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 10: Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā

Kṛṣṇa leaves Hastināpura for Dvārakā amid His relatives’ affection and praise.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.10

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

aho batahow wonderful this is
svaḥ-yaśasaḥthe glories of the heavenly planets
tiraskarīthat which defeats
kuśasthalīDvārakā
puṇyavirtue
yaśaskarīfamous
bhuvaḥthe planet earth
paśyantisee

Key ideas in this verse

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

Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord
How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.10
In this verse: “favors”, “favor”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 1.10
In this verse: “sweet”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.10
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking greater material comfort, or the lasting association of the Lord?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s sweet smile and His desire to have you in His association.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Association Surpasses Heavenly EnjoymentThis 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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