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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 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb
10.2.2810.2.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.2.29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 10.2.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

बिभर्षि रूपाण्यवबोध आत्माक्षेमाय लोकस्य चराचरस्य । सत्त्वोपपन्नानि सुखावहानिसतामभद्राणि मुहु: खलानाम् ॥ २९ ॥

bibharṣi rūpāṇy avabodha ātmā

kṣemāya lokasya carācarasya

sattvopapannāni sukhāvahāni

satām abhadrāṇi muhuḥ khalānām

Translation

O Lord, You are always in full knowledge, and to bring all good fortune to all living entities, You appear in different incarnations, all of them transcendental to the material creation. When You appear in these incarnations, You are pleasing to the pious and religious devotees, but for nondevotees You are the annihilator.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Appears for Everyone's Benefit

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in different incarnations while always remaining in full knowledge. All these incarnations are transcendental to the material creation.

  2. 2

    Although His incarnations function differently, their main purpose is to protect devotees and annihilate miscreants. His appearances bring pleasure to the pious and religious devotees.

  3. 3

    The Lord appears for the good fortune of all living entities. Even the annihilation of miscreants is ultimately good for them.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse explains why the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears as an incarnation again and again.
  • The incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead all function differently, but their main purpose is paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām — to protect the devotees and annihilate the miscreants.
  • Yet even though the duṣkṛtīs, or miscreants, are annihilated, this is ultimately good for them.

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

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:

The Supreme Godhead is absolutely independent, and His incarnations are transcendental. The prayers of the demigods glorify and exalt devotees and explain the fate of persons who superficially consider themselves liberated from the conditions of material nature.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bibharṣiYou accept
  2. rūpāṇivarieties of forms, such as Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Rāma and Nṛsiṁha
  3. avabodhaḥ ātmāin spite of having different incarnations, You remain the Supreme, full of knowledge
  4. kṣemāyafor the benefit of everyone, and especially the devotees
  5. lokasyaof all living entities
  6. cara-acarasyamoving and nonmoving
  7. sattva-upapannāniall such incarnations are transcendental ( śuddha-sattva)
  8. sukha-avahānifull of transcendental bliss
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “religious”

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 the Lord's purpose in appearing deepen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Read the translation once more today and offer a brief prayer of gratitude for the Lord's protection of His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears for Everyone's BenefitThis 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 10.2.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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