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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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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.38

Who is speaking and story frame

मृत्युर्जन्मवतां वीर देहेन सह जायते । अद्य वाब्दशतान्ते वा मृत्युर्वै प्राणिनां ध्रुव: ॥ ३८ ॥

mṛtyur janmavatāṁ vīra

dehena saha jāyate

adya vābda-śatānte vā

mṛtyur vai prāṇināṁ dhruvaḥ

Translation

O great hero, one who takes birth is sure to die, for death is born with the body. One may die today or after hundreds of years, but death is sure for every living entity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare for Death Without Committing Sin

  1. 1

    Death is born with the body and is certain for everyone who takes birth. Whether it comes today or after hundreds of years, it cannot be avoided.

  2. 2

    Vasudeva wanted Kaṁsa to understand that killing Devakī could not save him from death. It would only harm his reputation and that of his family.

  3. 3

    Rather than fear death, one should prepare for the next birth. Human life should be used to end birth and death, not to become entangled in sinful activities.

Key points from the purport
  • Vasudeva wanted to impress upon Kaṁsa that although Kaṁsa feared dying and therefore wanted to kill even a woman, he could not avoid death.
  • Rather, one should prepare oneself for the next birth.
  • One should utilize one’s time in this human form to end the process of birth and death.

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 10.1.38 quotesBG 2.27

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.27): “For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain.

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

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:

Every living entity lives in a body for some time and then transmigrates to another body, but one is unfortunately misled into accepting the body as the soul. If a person under this mistaken conception wants to kill another body, he is condemned as hellish.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛtyuḥdeath
  2. janma-vatāmof the living entities who have taken birth
  3. vīraO great hero
  4. dehena sahaalong with the body
  5. jāyateis born (one who has taken birth is sure to die)
  6. adyatoday
  7. vāeither
  8. abda-śataof hundreds of years
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “death”, “fear”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

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 might accepting death’s certainty change the way I use my time?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to study this teaching instead of postponing spiritual preparation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrepare for Death Without Committing SinThis 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 10.1.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.