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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 1: The Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Introduction
10.1.5810.1.60

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.1.59

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.1.55inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द‍ृष्ट्वा समत्वं तच्छौरे: सत्ये चैव व्यवस्थितिम् । कंसस्तुष्टमना राजन् प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ ५९ ॥

dṛṣṭvā samatvaṁ tac chaureḥ

satye caiva vyavasthitim

kaṁsas tuṣṭa-manā rājan

prahasann idam abravīt

Translation

My dear King Parīkṣit, when Kaṁsa saw that Vasudeva, being situated in truthfulness, was completely equipoised in giving him the child, he was very happy. Therefore, with a smiling face, he spoke as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remain Steady Through Happiness and Distress

  1. 1

    Samatvam means remaining equipoised, unaffected by happiness or distress. Vasudeva showed this steadiness while delivering his first-born child to Kaṁsa.

  2. 2

    Material happiness and distress come and go like winter and summer. Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

  3. 3

    A self-realized soul is not disturbed by material happiness or distress. Vasudeva, an exalted devotee, demonstrated this teaching by his practical example.

Key points from the purport
  • The word samatvam is very significant in this verse.
  • In the material world, one should not be very eager to be happy, nor should one be very much disturbed by material distress.
  • Vasudeva was not at all disturbed when delivering his first child to Kaṁsa to be killed.

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· 2

The purport of SB 10.1.59 quotesBG 2.56

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.56) it is said, duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ.

The purport of SB 10.1.59 quotesBG 2.14

They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.”

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:

Therefore these five chapters are known as rāsa-pañcādhyāya. The Forty-seventh Chapter of the Tenth Canto is a description known as the bhramara-gītā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāby seeing
  2. samatvambeing equipoised, undisturbed in distress or happiness
  3. tatthat
  4. śaureḥof Vasudeva
  5. satyein truthfulness
  6. caindeed
  7. evacertainly
  8. vyavasthitimthe firm situation
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “child”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.1

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

Which passing happiness or distress is most likely to unsettle me today?

Practice

When a minor discomfort arises, pause and remember that it will pass before choosing your response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.1's connections

Live this todayRemain Steady Through Happiness and DistressThis 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 10.1.59? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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