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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
10.1.110.1.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 10.1.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यदोश्च धर्मशीलस्य नितरां मुनिसत्तम । तत्रांशेनावतीर्णस्य विष्णोर्वीर्याणि शंस न: ॥ २ ॥

yadoś ca dharma-śīlasya

nitarāṁ muni-sattama

tatrāṁśenāvatīrṇasya

viṣṇor vīryāṇi śaṁsa naḥ

Translation

O best of munis, you have also described the descendants of Yadu, who were very pious and strictly adherent to religious principles. Now, if you will, kindly describe the wonderful, glorious activities of Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa, who appeared in that Yadu dynasty with Baladeva, His plenary expansion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa is the origin of all

  1. 1

    Govinda, Kṛṣṇa, is the original Personality of Godhead and the cause of all causes. His body is eternal, blissful and spiritual.

  2. 2

    Baladeva is the first manifestation of Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa appeared with Baladeva, all the viṣṇu-tattvas appeared with Him.

  3. 3

    No one can describe Kṛṣṇa fully. Even Anantadeva’s descriptions, spoken with thousands of tongues, remain incomplete.

Key points from the purport
  • Nārāyaṇa is a plenary expansion of the catur-vyūha, and the catur-vyūha are plenary expansions of Baladeva, the first manifestation of Kṛṣṇa.
  • Therefore when Kṛṣṇa appeared with Baladeva, all the viṣṇu-tattvas appeared with Him.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit requested Śukadeva Gosvāmī to describe Kṛṣṇa and His glorious activities.

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:

When Śukadeva Gosvāmī finished describing the dynasty of Yadu, as well as the dynasties of the moon-god and sun-god, Mahārāja Parīkṣit requested him to describe Lord Kṛṣṇa, who appeared with Baladeva in the Yadu dynasty, and how Kṛṣṇa performed His activities within this world. Kṛṣṇa is transcendental, the King said, and therefore to understand His activities is the occupation of liberated persons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadoḥof Yadu or the Yadu dynasty
  2. caalso
  3. dharma-śīlasyawho were strictly attached to religious principles
  4. nitarāmhighly qualified
  5. muni-sattamaO best of all munis, king of the munis (Śukadeva Gosvāmī)
  6. tatrain that dynasty
  7. aṁśenawith His plenary expansion Baladeva
  8. avatīrṇasyawho appeared as an incarnation
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 can knowing that Kṛṣṇa’s glories are unlimited help you hear about Him with humility?

Practice

Read aloud the purport’s description of Govinda as the cause of all causes, then pause to reflect on His greatness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa is the origin of allThis 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 10.1.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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