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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 1: The Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Introduction
10.1.1410.1.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.1.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forŚukadeva Gosvāmī· Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes

श्रीशुक उवाच

सम्यग्व्यवसिता बुद्धिस्तव राजर्षिसत्तम । वासुदेवकथायां ते यज्जाता नैष्ठिकी रति: ॥ १५ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

samyag vyavasitā buddhis

tava rājarṣi-sattama

vāsudeva-kathāyāṁ te

yaj jātā naiṣṭhikī ratiḥ

Translation

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O Your Majesty, best of all saintly kings, because you are greatly attracted to topics of Vāsudeva, it is certain that your intelligence is firmly fixed in spiritual understanding, which is the only true goal for humanity. Because that attraction is unceasing, it is certainly sublime.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Steady Attraction Shows Spiritual Intelligence

  1. 1

    Unceasing attraction to topics of Vāsudeva shows intelligence firmly fixed in spiritual understanding. One whose mind is fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness understands the value of life.

  2. 2

    Executive heads of government must understand kṛṣṇa-kathā so they can help people become happy and gain relief from materialistic life.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī were elevated by their common interest in kṛṣṇa-kathā. Such hearing and speaking can bring both audience and speaker back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa-kathā is compulsory for the rājarṣi, or executive head of government.
  • One who has fixed his mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be understood to have very sharp intelligence in regard to the value of life.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit was rājarṣi-sattama, the best of all saintly kings, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī was muni-sattama, the best of munis.

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

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Introduction

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hearing of kṛṣṇa-līlā is the boat by which to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Except for an animal killer or one who is following a policy of suicide, every intelligent person must strive to understand Kṛṣṇa and His activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. samyakcompletely
  3. vyavasitāfixed
  4. buddhiḥintelligence
  5. tavaof Your Majesty
  6. rāja-ṛṣi-sattamaO best of rājarṣis, saintly kings
  7. vāsudeva-kathāyāmin hearing about the topics of Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa
  8. teyour
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “kings”, “government”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “materialistic”

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 place does steady hearing about Kṛṣṇa have in your understanding of a worthwhile life?

Practice

Set aside a specific five-minute period today for hearing or reading about Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySteady Attraction Shows Spiritual IntelligenceThis 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 10.1.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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