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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 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb
10.2.3010.2.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.2.31

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

स्वयं समुत्तीर्य सुदुस्तरं द्युमन्

भवार्णवं भीममदभ्रसौहृदा: ।

भवत्पदाम्भोरुहनावमत्र ते

निधाय याता: सदनुग्रहो भवान् ॥ ३१ ॥

svayaṁ samuttīrya sudustaraṁ dyuman

bhavārṇavaṁ bhīmam adabhra-sauhṛdāḥ

bhavat-padāmbhoruha-nāvam atra te

nidhāya yātāḥ sad-anugraho bhavān

Translation

O Lord, who resemble the shining sun, You are always ready to fulfill the desire of Your devotee, and therefore You are known as a desire tree [vāñchā-kalpataru]. When ācāryas completely take shelter under Your lotus feet in order to cross the fierce ocean of nescience, they leave behind on earth the method by which they cross, and because You are very merciful to Your other devotees, You accept this method to help them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive the path through guru and Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The merciful ācāryas and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, together help the serious devotee return home, back to Godhead. By the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa, one receives the seed of devotional service.

  2. 2

    The guru teaches suitable ways to serve according to the time, circumstances and person, while following śāstra, the scriptures. Kṛṣṇa accepts service offered through this authorized method.

  3. 3

    The ācāryas leave books and instructions to help future devotees follow the path. Rather than artificially imitate advanced devotees, one should faithfully follow the prescribed method and live in the association of devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • The ācārya’s duty, therefore, is to find the means by which devotees may render service according to references from śāstra.
  • Thus it is the duty of the ācārya to publish books that will help future candidates take up the method of service and become eligible to return home, back to Godhead, by the mercy of the Lord.
  • The ācārya gives the suitable method for crossing the ocean of nescience by accepting the boat of the Lord’s lotus feet, and if this method is strictly followed, the followers will ultimately reach the destination, by the grace of the Lord.

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 10.2.31 quotesCC Madhya 19.151

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. One can achieve the seed of bhakti-latā, devotional service, by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.

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:

When a devotee fully surrenders at the lotus feet of the Lord, he is completely liberated from the fear of material existence. By explaining why the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends, the prayers of the demigods clearly confirm the Lord’s statement in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7):
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. svayampersonally
  2. samuttīryaperfectly crossing
  3. su-dustaramwhich is very difficult to cross
  4. dyumanO Lord, who appear exactly like the sun, illuminating the darkness of this world of ignorance
  5. bhava-arṇavamthe ocean of nescience
  6. bhīmamwhich is extremely fierce
  7. adabhra-sauhṛdāḥdevotees who are incessantly friendly to the fallen souls
  8. bhavat-pada-ambhoruhaYour lotus feet
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “merciful”, “mercy”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

Am I willing to follow suitable devotional guidance rather than imitate someone else’s advanced practice?

Practice

Read one paragraph of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purport today and choose one instruction about devotional service to follow.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive the path through guru and KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.2.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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