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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 10.12.39

Who is speaking and story frame

सकृद् यदङ्गप्रतिमान्तराहिता

मनोमयी भागवतीं ददौ गतिम् ।

स एव नित्यात्मसुखानुभूत्यभि-

व्युदस्तमायोऽन्तर्गतो हि किं पुन: ॥ ३९ ॥

sakṛd yad-aṅga-pratimāntar-āhitā

manomayī bhāgavatīṁ dadau gatim

sa eva nityātma-sukhānubhūty-abhi-

vyudasta-māyo ’ntar-gato hi kiṁ punaḥ

Translation

If even only once or even by force one brings the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead into one’s mind, one can attain the supreme salvation by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, as did Aghāsura. What then is to be said of those whose hearts the Supreme Personality of Godhead enters when He appears as an incarnation, or those who always think of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the source of transcendental bliss for all living entities and by whom all illusion is completely removed?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Kṛṣṇa With Devotion

  1. 1

    Simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa, one can attain Him very easily. His lotus feet are always within the hearts of His devotees.

  2. 2

    Although Aghāsura intended to kill Kṛṣṇa, he thought of Him for a moment with devotion. Kṛṣṇa accepted that moment of devotion and granted him salvation.

  3. 3

    Devotees always engage in glorifying Kṛṣṇa. One who always thinks of Him attains special salvation as His personal associate.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa is also described as having His lotus feet always within the hearts of His devotees (bhagavān bhakta-hṛdi sthitaḥ).
  • Those who are devotees always engage in glorifying Kṛṣṇa.
  • One who always thinks of Kṛṣṇa must attain vimukti, special salvation as the Lord’s personal associate, not necessarily in Vṛndāvana, but at least in Vaikuṇṭha.

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· 3

The purport of SB 10.12.39 quotesSB 4.22.39

Yat-pāda-paṅkaja-palāśa-vilāsa-bhaktyā. Simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa, one can attain Him very easily.

The purport of SB 10.12.39 quotesBG 2.40

Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt. Especially when Kṛṣṇa appears as an avatāra, anyone who thinks of Kṛṣṇa in His different incarnations (rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan), and especially in His original form as Kṛṣṇa, attains salvation.

The purport of SB 10.12.39 quotesBG 9.14

Therefore the process is satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ.

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

Peril and pride → Friendship and humility. Divinity is revealed amid intimate childhood play.

Chapters 12–19 of Canto 10: Childhood dangers and Brahmā's amazement. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

For a crooked, sinful person there is no scope for sāyujya-mukti, or becoming one with the effulgence of Kṛṣṇa, but because the Supreme Personality of Godhead entered the body of Aghāsura, by His touch this demon got the opportunity to merge into the existence of the Brahman effulgence and thus attain sāyujya-mukti. When this pastime was performed, Kṛṣṇa was only five years old.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sakṛtonce only
  2. yatwhose
  3. aṅga-pratimāthe form of the Supreme Lord (there are many forms, but Kṛṣṇa is the original form)
  4. antaḥ-āhitāplacing within the core of the heart, somehow or other
  5. manaḥ-mayīthinking of Him even by force
  6. bhāgavatīmwhich is competent to offer devotional service to the Lord
  7. dadauKṛṣṇa gave
  8. gatimthe best destination
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “illusion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “mercy”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When can I make room today to remember Kṛṣṇa with devotion?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute to think of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and glorify Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

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

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa With DevotionThis 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 10.12.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.