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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 13: The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahmā
10.13.5710.13.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.13.58

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.13.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ततोऽर्वाक्प्रतिलब्धाक्ष: क: परेतवदुत्थित: ।

कृच्छ्रादुन्मील्य वै द‍ृष्टीराचष्टेदं सहात्मना ॥ ५८ ॥

tato ’rvāk pratilabdhākṣaḥ

kaḥ paretavad utthitaḥ

kṛcchrād unmīlya vai dṛṣṭīr

ācaṣṭedaṁ sahātmanā

Translation

Lord Brahmā’s external consciousness then revived, and he stood up, just like a dead man coming back to life. Opening his eyes with great difficulty, he saw the universe, along with himself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Spiritual Life in This Human Birth

  1. 1

    Brahmā’s external consciousness revived as though a dead man had returned to life. The purport explains that we do not actually die but become inactive for some time and then resume activity.

  2. 2

    Life after life continues according to karma, our activities, and svabhāva, our nature shaped by association. Without spiritual preparation, repeated birth and death continue.

  3. 3

    Human life offers the opportunity to begin spiritual activity and return to our real, permanent life. Kṛṣṇa consciousness aims to end repeated birth and death by attaining perfection in this very birth.

Key points from the purport
  • Otherwise, according to karma, svabhāva, prakṛti and so on, our varieties of life and activity continue, and so also do our birth and death.
  • One should come to the spiritual platform, and then one’s activities will be permanent.
  • In one birth, one should rectify everything and come to permanent life.

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· 1

The purport of SB 10.13.58 quotesCC Madhya 8.70

Janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement wants to stop koṭi-janma, repeated birth and death.

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 13: The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahmā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Brahmā could then understand Kṛṣṇa’s potency, and he was astonished by the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, his worshipable Lord. Kṛṣṇa, however, bestowed His causeless mercy upon Brahmā and released him from illusion.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthen
  2. arvākexternally
  3. pratilabdha-akṣaḥhaving revived his consciousness
  4. kaḥLord Brahmā
  5. pareta-vatjust like a dead man
  6. utthitaḥstood up
  7. kṛcchrātwith great difficulty
  8. unmīlyaopening up
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “death”

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

What spiritual activity am I making room for in this human life?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to study this teaching as a deliberate step in developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin Spiritual Life in This Human BirthThis 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 10.13.58? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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