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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 10.2.36

Who is speaking and story frame

न नामरूपे गुणजन्मकर्मभि-

र्निरूपितव्ये तव तस्य साक्षिण: ।

मनोवचोभ्यामनुमेयवर्त्मनो

देव क्रियायां प्रतियन्त्यथापि हि ॥ ३६ ॥

na nāma-rūpe guṇa-janma-karmabhir

nirūpitavye tava tasya sākṣiṇaḥ

mano-vacobhyām anumeya-vartmano

deva kriyāyāṁ pratiyanty athāpi hi

Translation

O Lord, Your transcendental name and form are not ascertained by those who merely speculate on the path of imagination. Your name, form and attributes can be ascertained only through devotional service.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Reveals Himself Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The name, form, qualities and pastimes of Kṛṣṇa cannot be understood through materially contaminated senses or imagination. The Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself when one engages in His devotional service.

  2. 2

    Because the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His name and His actual form. A devotee who understands this chants Hare Kṛṣṇa and realizes that he is always in Kṛṣṇa’s company.

  3. 3

    Studying, hearing and remembering Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental activities can gradually raise one to the position of a pure devotee. Those always engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by body, mind and activities are considered liberated even within this body.

Key points from the purport
  • Since Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental name, form and activities are all of a transcendental nature, ordinary persons or those who are only slightly advanced cannot understand them.
  • Since there is no difference between the transcendental name and form of the Lord, there is no difference between the transcendental pastimes and the form of the Lord.
  • Similarly, because of the material disease, nondevotees cannot understand the transcendental name, form, attributes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although they actually see the Lord’s activities, either through authority or through history.

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· 2

The purport of SB 10.2.36 quotesBG 18.55

This confirms Kṛṣṇa’s own words in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55): “One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is only by devotional service.

The purport of SB 10.2.36 quotesBG 4.9

As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

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:

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. nāma-rūpethe name and form
  3. guṇawith attributes
  4. janmaappearance
  5. karmabhiḥactivities or pastimes
  6. nirūpitavyeare not able to be ascertained
  7. tavaYour
  8. tasyaof Him
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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: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.2

    In this verse: “chants”, “hearing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materially”

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

How might remembering that Kṛṣṇa is present in His name change the way you chant?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra once attentively today, remembering that the Lord’s name is not different from Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Reveals Himself Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 10.2.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.