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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 10.13.64

Who is speaking and story frame

शनैरथोत्थाय विमृज्य लोचने

मुकुन्दमुद्वीक्ष्य विनम्रकन्धर: ।

कृताञ्जलि: प्रश्रयवान् समाहित:

सवेपथुर्गद्गदयैलतेलया ॥ ६४ ॥

ज्ञाने प्रयासमुदपास्य नमन्त एव

जीवन्ति सन्मुखरितां भवदीयवार्ताम् ।

स्थाने स्थिता: श्रुतिगतां तनुवाङ्‌मनोभि-

र्ये प्रायशोऽजित जितोऽप्यसि तैस्त्रिलोक्याम् ॥

śanair athotthāya vimṛjya locane

mukundam udvīkṣya vinamra-kandharaḥ

kṛtāñjaliḥ praśrayavān samāhitaḥ

sa-vepathur gadgadayailatelayā

Translation

Then, rising very gradually and wiping his two eyes, Lord Brahmā looked up at Mukunda. Lord Brahmā, his head bent low, his mind concentrated and his body trembling, very humbly began, with faltering words, to offer praises to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Prayers with Humility and Attention

  1. 1

    Brahmā was so joyful that he shed tears and washed Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet with them. He repeatedly fell and rose while recalling the Lord’s wonderful activities.

  2. 2

    After offering obeisances for a long time, Brahmā gradually stood and wiped his eyes. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that he wiped the two eyes on each of his four faces.

  3. 3

    Seeing Kṛṣṇa before him, Brahmā offered prayers with great humility, respect and attention. His head was bent low, his mind concentrated, his body trembling and his words faltering.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmā, being very joyful, began to shed tears, and he washed the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa with his tears.
  • After repeating obeisances for a long time, Brahmā stood up and smeared his hands over his eyes.
  • Seeing the Lord before him, Brahmā began to offer prayers with great humility, respect and attention.

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

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:

Kṛṣṇa, however, bestowed His causeless mercy upon Brahmā and released him from illusion. Thus Brahmā began to offer prayers to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śanaiḥgradually
  2. athathen
  3. utthāyarising
  4. vimṛjyawiping
  5. locanehis two eyes
  6. mukundamat Mukunda, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
  7. udvīkṣyalooking up
  8. vinamra-kandharaḥhis neck bent
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.13

    In this verse: “humility”

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

How can I bring more humility, respect and attention to my prayers to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Today, bow your head and offer a short prayer to Kṛṣṇa, giving your full attention to the words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayOffer Prayers with Humility and AttentionThis 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 10.13.64? Get an answer from the verses themselves.