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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
10.1.4710.1.49-50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.48

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.1.46inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मृत्युर्बुद्धिमतापोह्यो यावद्बुद्धिबलोदयम् । यद्यसौ न निवर्तेत नापराधोऽस्ति देहिन: ॥ ४८ ॥

mṛtyur buddhimatāpohyo

yāvad buddhi-balodayam

yady asau na nivarteta

nāparādho ’sti dehinaḥ

Translation

As long as he has intelligence and bodily strength, an intelligent person must try to avoid death. This is the duty of every embodied person. But if death cannot be avoided in spite of one’s endeavors, a person facing death commits no offense.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect Life and Cultivate Spiritual Life

  1. 1

    An intelligent person should use intelligence and bodily strength to avoid death. Trying to save oneself from untimely death is a duty.

  2. 2

    Every living soul is eternal by nature. Everyone should cultivate spiritual life to avoid death and rebirth.

  3. 3

    Vasudeva had a duty to try his best to save Devakī. If death cannot be avoided despite one's endeavors, the person facing it commits no offense.

Key points from the purport
  • It is natural for a person facing untimely death to try his best to save himself.
  • Although death is sure, everyone should try to avoid it and not meet death without opposition because every living soul is by nature eternal.
  • Because Devakī was face to face with imminent death, it was Vasudeva’s duty to save her, as he was trying his best to do.

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 Vasudeva gave Kaṁsa the child, Kaṁsa, showing some intelligence, said that since he was to be killed by the eighth child, why should he kill the first? Although Vasudeva did not trust him, Kaṁsa requested Vasudeva to take the child back.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛtyuḥdeath
  2. buddhi-matāby an intelligent person
  3. apohyaḥshould be avoided
  4. yāvatas long as
  5. buddhi-bala-udayamintelligence and bodily strength are present
  6. yadiif
  7. asauthat (death)
  8. na nivartetacannot be checked
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “offense”

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 am I caring for life while also cultivating spiritual life?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to study this teaching about the eternal soul.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtect Life and Cultivate Spiritual LifeThis 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 10.1.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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