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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 10.20.12

Who is speaking and story frame

क्षेत्राणि शष्यसम्पद्भ‍ि: कर्षकाणां मुदं ददु: ।

मानिनामनुतापं वै दैवाधीनमजानताम् ॥ १२ ॥

kṣetrāṇi śaṣya-sampadbhiḥ

karṣakāṇāṁ mudaṁ daduḥ

māninām anutāpaṁ vai

daivādhīnam ajānatām

Translation

With their wealth of grains, the fields gave joy to the farmers. But those fields created remorse in the hearts of those who were too proud to engage in farming and who failed to understand how everything is under the control of the Supreme.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Supreme Lord's Provision

  1. 1

    Fields rich with grain brought joy to farmers but remorse to those too proud to farm. The proud failed to understand that everything is under the Supreme Lord’s control.

  2. 2

    Rain nourishes the crops people eat. Through rain, the Supreme Lord feeds human beings, plants, animals and the earth itself.

  3. 3

    Arrogant and ignorant administration creates frustration through artificial restrictions and waste. A God conscious government provides abundance and happiness for all.

Key points from the purport
  • Modern, sophisticated people often look down their noses at those engaged in agricultural work.
  • Because of various artificial and manipulative practices in modern governments, we find widespread food shortages throughout the world — even in the United States, among the poverty-stricken — and at the same time we find the governments paying farmers not to plant crops.
  • Thus the administration of the arrogant and ignorant, those who are too proud to obey the laws of God or too ignorant to recognize them, will always cause frustration among the people, whereas a God conscious government will provide abundance and happiness for all.

The purport'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

Attraction and threat → Joy and trust. The pastoral world becomes the setting for protection and love.

Chapters 20–28 of Canto 10: Forest seasons, flute and Govardhana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana

Summary of this chapter:

To enhance the description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes in this chapter the beauty of Vṛndāvana during autumn and the rainy season. In the course of his presentation he gives various charming instructions in metaphorical terms.
Back to this verse in chapter 10.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṣetrāṇithe fields
  2. śaṣya-sampadbhiḥwith their wealth of grains
  3. karṣakāṇāmto the farmers
  4. mudamjoy
  5. daduḥgave
  6. mānināmto others who are falsely proud
  7. anutāpamremorse
  8. vaiindeed
  9. daiva-adhīnamthe control of destiny
  10. ajānatāmnot understanding
3

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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “proud”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “government”, “administration”

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

Do I appreciate the rain and agricultural work that help provide my food?

Practice

Before one meal today, pause to appreciate how the Supreme Lord nourishes living beings through rain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Supreme Lord's ProvisionThis 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 10.20.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.