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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
10.2.4110.3.1-5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.2.42

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

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्यभिष्टूय पुरुषं यद्रूपमनिदं यथा ।

ब्रह्मेशानौ पुरोधाय देवा: प्रतिययुर्दिवम् ॥ ४२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity abhiṣṭūya puruṣaṁ

yad-rūpam anidaṁ yathā

brahmeśānau purodhāya

devāḥ pratiyayur divam

Translation

After thus offering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, the Transcendence, all the demigods, with Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva before them, returned to their homes in the heavenly planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Can Stay Wherever He Likes

  1. 1

    The Lord’s incarnations appear continuously, like waves of a river or ocean. They have no limit, but only fortunate devotees can perceive them.

  2. 2

    The demigods fortunately understood the Lord’s incarnation and offered Him prayers. Then Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva led them back to their heavenly homes.

  3. 3

    There is no contradiction between Kṛṣṇa’s presence in Devakī’s heart and His presence in her womb, for He can stay wherever He likes. Devakī received the opportunity to have the Supreme Personality of Godhead as her son.

Key points from the purport
  • The devatās, the demigods, fortunately understood the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus they offered their prayers.
  • Devakī, therefore, in accordance with the desire of her former life, now had the opportunity to seek the benediction of having the Supreme Personality of Godhead as her son, Devakī-nandana.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Tenth Canto, Second Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb.”

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:

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): yadā yadā hi dharmasya
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itiin this way
  3. abhiṣṭūyaoffering prayers
  4. puruṣamunto the Supreme Personality
  5. yat-rūpamwhose form
  6. anidamtranscendental
  7. yathāas
  8. brahmaLord Brahmā
3

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”

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 freedom to stay anywhere deepen your understanding of Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer honoring Kṛṣṇa’s freedom to appear and stay wherever He desires.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Can Stay Wherever He LikesThis 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 10.2.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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