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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya
10.16.4710.16.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.48

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The wives of the Kāliya serpentsince 10.16.33inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

परावरगतिज्ञाय सर्वाध्यक्षाय ते नम: ।

अविश्वाय च विश्वाय तद्‌‌द्रष्ट्रेऽस्य च हेतवे ॥ ४८ ॥

parāvara-gati-jñāya

sarvādhyakṣāya te namaḥ

aviśvāya ca viśvāya

tad-draṣṭre ’sya ca hetave

Translation

Obeisances unto You, who know the destination of all things, superior and inferior, and who are the presiding regulator of all that be. You are distinct from the universal creation, and yet You are the basis upon which the illusion of material creation evolves, and also the witness of this illusion. Indeed, You are the root cause of the entire world.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Knows and Governs All Destinations

  1. 1

    Superior and inferior refer to subtle and gross elements, and also to devotees and those unaware of God’s glories.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa knows the destiny of every entity, living and nonliving. As the Supreme Absolute Truth, He remains uniquely above everything.

  3. 3

    The Lord is distinct from creation, yet He is its basis, witness and root cause. He is the presiding regulator of all that exists.

Key points from the purport
  • The words para and avara indicate superior, subtle elements and inferior, gross ones.
  • The words also indicate superior personalities — devotees of the Lord — and inferior personalities, who are unaware of the glories of God.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa knows the destiny of all superior and inferior entities, animate and inanimate, and as the Supreme Absolute Truth He remains in His unique position above everything, as indicated by the word sarvādhyakṣāya.

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 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Indeed, by Your anger he has gained great benefit. What piety Kāliya must have amassed in his previous lives!
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. para-avaraof all things, both superior and inferior
  2. gatithe destinations
  3. jñāyato Him who knows
  4. sarvaof all things
  5. adhyakṣāyato the regulator
  6. teYou
  7. namaḥour obeisances
  8. aviśvāyato Him who is distinct from the universe
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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 does knowing that Kṛṣṇa understands every destination affect my trust in Him?

Practice

Pause over one uncertainty today and offer obeisances to the Lord who knows the destiny of all things.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Knows and Governs All DestinationsThis 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 10.16.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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