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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 14: Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.14.1210.14.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.14.13

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 10.14.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जगत् त्रयान्तोदधिसम्प्लवोदे

नारायणस्योदरनाभिनालात् ।

विनिर्गतोऽजस्त्विति वाङ्‍‍‍‍न वै मृषा

किन्‍त्वीश्वर त्वन्न विनिर्गतोऽस्मि ॥ १३ ॥

jagat-trayāntodadhi-samplavode

nārāyaṇasyodara-nābhi-nālāt

vinirgato ’jas tv iti vāṅ na vai mṛṣā

kintv īśvara tvan na vinirgato ’smi

Translation

My dear Lord, it is said that when the three planetary systems are merged into the water at the time of dissolution, Your plenary portion, Nārāyaṇa, lies down on the water, gradually a lotus flower grows from His navel, and Brahmā takes birth upon that lotus flower. Certainly, these words are not false. Thus am I not born from You?

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brahmā Appeals to His Divine Parent

  1. 1

    Brahmā takes birth upon the lotus growing from Nārāyaṇa’s navel. He therefore appeals to Kṛṣṇa as the source of his birth.

  2. 2

    Every living being is a child of God and an expansion of the Supreme Lord’s transcendental body. Brahmā also has an intimate relationship with the Lord through the work of universal creation.

  3. 3

    Brahmā is called aja because he does not take birth from a mother but comes directly from the Lord’s body. On these grounds, he requests special forgiveness for his offenses.

Key points from the purport
  • Although every living being is a child of God, Lord Brahmā here makes a special claim because he takes birth on a lotus flower that emanates from the navel of Nārāyaṇa, the Personality of Godhead.
  • Lord Brahmā is called aja because he is not born from any mother but rather emanates directly from the body of the Lord.
  • On these grounds, Lord Brahmā is requesting special forgiveness for his offenses.

The purport'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 14: Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Finally realizing this, Brahmā repeatedly condemned his own actions and recognized that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the ultimate shelter of the universe, is Brahmā’s own father, the original Nārāyaṇa. In this way Brahmā begged the Lord’s forgiveness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jagat-trayaof the three worlds
  2. antain the dissolution
  3. udadhiof all the oceans
  4. samplavaof the total deluge
  5. udein the water
  6. nārāyaṇasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa
  7. udaragrowing from the abdomen
  8. nābhifrom the navel
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “mother”, “child”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “offenses”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can remembering that I am a child of God deepen my humble appeal for mercy?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to ask the Lord for forgiveness, remembering your relationship with Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrahmā Appeals to His Divine ParentThis 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.

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