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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
10.14.710.14.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.14.8

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

तत्तेऽनुकम्पां सुसमीक्षमाणो

भुञ्जान एवात्मकृतं विपाकम् ।

हृद्वाग्वपुर्भिर्विदधन्नमस्ते

जीवेत यो मुक्तिपदे स दायभाक् ॥ ८ ॥

tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo

bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam

hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te

jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk

Translation

My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.

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.

Patiently Await Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

  1. 1

    One who remains steady in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, following the principles of bhakti-yoga, becomes eligible for the Lord’s mercy, just as a son receives his inheritance.

  2. 2

    For a surrendered devotee, apparent suffering may be the Lord’s special mercy rather than a karmic reaction. It removes the remaining desire to enjoy separately from Him.

  3. 3

    A sincere devotee continues offering respects with heart, words and body while earnestly awaiting mercy. Such purification prepares the devotee for the Lord’s personal association.

Key points from the purport
  • The word su-samīkṣamāṇa indicates that a devotee earnestly awaits the mercy of the Supreme Lord even while suffering the painful effects of previous sinful activities.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in the Bhagavad-gītā that a devotee who fully surrenders unto Him is no longer liable to suffer the reactions of his previous karma.
  • Therefore he willingly accepts the Lord’s merciful punishment and continues offering respects and obeisances to the Lord with his heart, words and body.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.6.45

jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk. The purport of this verse is that when a devotee is in a calamitous condition he takes it as a benediction of the Supreme Lord and takes responsibility himself for his past misdeeds.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.26.21

jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk. This verse states that the devotee accepts a reversal of his position in life as a benediction by the Lord and consequently offers the Lord more obeisances and prayers, thinking that the punishment is due to his past misdeeds and that the Lord is punishing him very mildly.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.10.14

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.8): “My dear Lord, one who constantly waits for Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him and who goes on suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his heart, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.1.16

When a devotee is put into hellish conditions, he accepts them as Kṛṣṇa’s mercy: tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇaḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.9.40

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.8): Even while suffering in the midst of difficulties, devotees simply offer their prayers and service more enthusiastically.

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 14: Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus only by the mercy of God can one understand His glories. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tattherefore
  2. teYour
  3. anukampāmcompassion
  4. su-samīkṣamāṇaḥearnestly hoping for
  5. bhuñjānaḥenduring
  6. evacertainly
  7. ātma-kṛtamdone by himself
  8. vipākamthe fruitive results
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “devotee”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.14

    In this verse: “suffering”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I continue serving Kṛṣṇa patiently when circumstances are difficult?

Practice

Offer one respectful obeisance to Kṛṣṇa with your body, words and heart, asking for steadiness in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPatiently Await Kṛṣṇa’s MercyOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 10.14.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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