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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 10.2.24

Who is speaking and story frame

आसीन: संविशंस्तिष्ठन् भुञ्जान: पर्यटन् महीम् । चिन्तयानो हृषीकेशमपश्यत् तन्मयं जगत् ॥ २४ ॥

āsīnaḥ saṁviśaṁs tiṣṭhan

bhuñjānaḥ paryaṭan mahīm

cintayāno hṛṣīkeśam

apaśyat tanmayaṁ jagat

Translation

While sitting on his throne or in his sitting room, while lying on his bed, or, indeed, while situated anywhere, and while eating, sleeping or walking, Kaṁsa saw only his enemy, the Supreme Lord, Hṛṣīkeśa. In other words, by thinking of his all-pervading enemy, Kaṁsa became unfavorably Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cultivate Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Favorably

  1. 1

    Kaṁsa thought of the Supreme Lord while sitting, eating, sleeping and walking. Because he regarded Kṛṣṇa as his enemy, this constant absorption left him uncomfortable rather than happy.

  2. 2

    The finest devotional service is to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness favorably. A devotee values this service above heavenly enjoyment or merging into the existence of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    A devotee's happiness comes from favorably serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not from a comfortable position. Even in great difficulty, a devotee can remain undisturbed.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaṁsa, of course, was also Kṛṣṇa conscious, but because he regarded Kṛṣṇa as his enemy, even though he was fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his Kṛṣṇa consciousness was not favorable for his existence.
  • For a Kṛṣṇa conscious person who is cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness favorably, the happiness conceived by the karmīs, jñānīs and yogīs is treated as less than a fig.
  • Kaṁsa, however, because of cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a different way — that is, inimically — was uncomfortable in all the affairs of his life; whether sitting, sleeping, walking or eating, he was always in danger.

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 10.2.24 quotesBG 6.22

Yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate. Even when a devotee is superficially put into great difficulty, he is never disturbed.

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

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus he began indirectly thinking of Kṛṣṇa and became fully Kṛṣṇa conscious. Meanwhile, because of the Lord’s presence within the womb of Devakī, all the demigods came to offer the Lord their prayers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.2
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āsīnaḥwhile sitting comfortably in his sitting room or on the throne
  2. saṁviśanor lying on his bed
  3. tiṣṭhanor staying anywhere
  4. bhuñjānaḥwhile eating
  5. paryaṭanwhile walking or moving
  6. mahīmon the ground, going hither and thither
  7. cintayānaḥalways inimically thinking of
  8. hṛṣīkeśamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of everything
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “favorably”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I remembering Kṛṣṇa with a desire to serve Him favorably?

Practice

During a short walk today, remember Kṛṣṇa with the intention of pleasing Him rather than seeking something for yourself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCultivate Kṛṣṇa Consciousness FavorablyThis 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 10.2.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.