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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
10.10.1710.10.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.10.18

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

साधूनां समचित्तानां मुकुन्दचरणैषिणाम् ।

उपेक्ष्यै: किं धनस्तम्भैरसद्भ‍िरसदाश्रयै: ॥ १८ ॥

sādhūnāṁ sama-cittānāṁ

mukunda-caraṇaiṣiṇām

upekṣyaiḥ kiṁ dhana-stambhair

asadbhir asad-āśrayaiḥ

Translation

Saintly persons [sādhus] think of Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day. They have no other interest. Why should people neglect the association of such exalted spiritual personalities and try to associate with materialists, taking shelter of nondevotees, most of whom are proud and rich?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose the Association of Kṛṣṇa’s Devotees

  1. 1

    A sādhu engages in devotional service to the Lord without deviation. Such saintly persons think of Kṛṣṇa throughout the day.

  2. 2

    A sādhu is tolerant, merciful, peaceful and friendly to all living beings. He follows the scriptures and has no enemies.

  3. 3

    Both poor and rich people can benefit from association with Kṛṣṇa’s devotees. The purport urges us not to exchange that association for company centered on wealth and sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • Why then should the rich, instead of associating with sādhus, waste their valuable time in association with other rich men who are averse to spiritual life?
  • If we give up the association of sādhus, saintly persons engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and associate with persons seeking sense gratification and accumulating wealth for this purpose, our life is spoiled.
  • Therefore one should not avoid the association of Vaiṣṇavas, which is now available all over the world in the form of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

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 10.10.18 quotesSB 3.25.21

He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.”

The purport of SB 10.10.18 quotesBG 7.15

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.15), the distinction between Vaiṣṇava and avaiṣṇava is enunciated: Anyone who is not surrendered to Kṛṣṇa is a most sinful person (duṣkṛtī), a rascal (mūḍha), and the lowest of men (narādhama).

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

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:

A poor man can be convinced very easily that the prestige of an opulent position in this material world is temporary, but a rich man cannot. Therefore Nārada Muni set an example by cursing these two persons, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, to become dull and unconscious like trees.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sādhūnāmof saintly persons
  2. sama-cittānāmof those who are equal to everyone
  3. mukunda-caraṇa-eṣiṇāmwhose only business is to serve Mukunda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and who always aspire for that service
  4. upekṣyaiḥneglecting the association
  5. kimwhat
  6. dhana-stambhaiḥrich and proud
  7. asadbhiḥwith the association of undesirable persons
  8. asat-āśrayaiḥtaking shelter of those who are asat, or nondevotees
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialists”, “sense gratification”, “wealth”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “proud”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.10

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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 company helps me remember Kṛṣṇa and value devotional service?

Practice

Make time today for one conversation with a devotee about Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose the Association of Kṛṣṇa’s DevoteesThis 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 10.10.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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