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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 10: The Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees
10.10.1410.10.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.10.15

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 10.10.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दरिद्रो निरहंस्तम्भो मुक्त: सर्वमदैरिह ।

कृच्छ्रं यद‍ृच्छयाप्नोति तद्धि तस्य परं तप: ॥ १५ ॥

daridro nirahaṁ-stambho

muktaḥ sarva-madair iha

kṛcchraṁ yadṛcchayāpnoti

tad dhi tasya paraṁ tapaḥ

Translation

A poverty-stricken man must automatically undergo austerities and penances because he does not have the wealth to possess anything. Thus his false prestige is vanquished. Always in need of food, shelter and clothing, he must be satisfied with what is obtained by the mercy of providence. Undergoing such compulsory austerities is good for him because this purifies him and completely frees him from false ego.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Austerity Helps Dissolve False Prestige

  1. 1

    A saintly person voluntarily accepts poverty to become free from material false prestige. Great kings also left royal comforts to practice purifying austerity.

  2. 2

    Someone who cannot accept austerity voluntarily may undergo it through poverty. The translation describes satisfaction with what comes by the mercy of providence.

  3. 3

    Austerity frees one from material conditions. When pride in aristocracy, wealth, education and beauty is broken, one is better situated for liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • A saintly person voluntarily accepts a state of poverty just to become free from material false prestige.
  • But if one who cannot voluntarily accept such austerity is put into a situation of poverty, he automatically must practice austerity.
  • Austerity is good for everyone because it frees one from material conditions.

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

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: The Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

For such bewildered persons ( ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā), who especially deride devotees, the proper punishment is to be again stricken with poverty. The Vedic rules and regulations prescribe how to control the false sense of prestige by the practice of yama, niyama and so on ( tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca).
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. daridraḥa poverty-stricken person
  2. nir-aham-stambhaḥis automatically freed from all false prestige
  3. muktaḥliberated
  4. sarvaall
  5. madaiḥfrom false ego
  6. ihain this world
  7. kṛcchramwith great difficulty
  8. yadṛcchayā āpnotiwhat he gains by chance from providence
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.10

    In this verse: “false ego”, “pride”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.10

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.10

    In this verse: “purifies”, “purifying”

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 material advantage am I most tempted to use as a reason to feel superior?

Practice

For today, set aside one unnecessary comfort and practice being satisfied with what you already have.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAusterity Helps Dissolve False PrestigeThis 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 10.10.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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