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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 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana
10.20.2110.20.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.20.22

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सर:स्वशान्तरोध:सु न्यूषुरङ्गापि सारसा: ।

गृहेष्वशान्तकृत्येषु ग्राम्या इव दुराशया: ॥ २२ ॥

saraḥsv aśānta-rodhaḥsu

nyūṣur aṅgāpi sārasāḥ

gṛheṣv aśānta-kṛtyeṣu

grāmyā iva durāśayāḥ

Translation

The cranes continued dwelling on the shores of the lakes, although the shores were agitated during the rainy season, just as materialistic persons with contaminated minds always remain at home, despite the many disturbances there.

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.

Attachment Can Obstruct Spiritual Improvement

  1. 1

    Rain brings mud slides, thorny bushes, stones and other debris to lakeshores. Despite these disturbances, ducks and cranes continue dwelling there.

  2. 2

    Similarly, painful occurrences repeatedly disturb family life, yet a materialistic person never considers leaving family responsibilities with grown sons to pursue spiritual improvement.

  3. 3

    He regards such a change as shocking because he is ignorant of the Absolute Truth and his relationship to that Truth.

Key points from the purport
  • During the rainy season there are often mud slides around the shores of lakes, and thorny bushes, stones and other debris sometimes accumulate there.
  • Despite all these inconveniences, ducks and cranes continue meandering around the lakeshores.
  • Similarly, innumerable painful occurrences are always disturbing family life, but a materialistic man never even considers leaving his family in the hands of his grown sons and going away for spiritual improvement.

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. saraḥsuupon the lakes
  2. aśāntadisturbed
  3. rodhaḥsuwhose banks
  4. nyūṣuḥcontinued to dwell
  5. aṅgamy dear King
  6. apiindeed
  7. sārasāḥthe cranes
  8. gṛheṣuin their homes
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “contaminated”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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

Does attachment to familiar circumstances keep me from making time for spiritual improvement?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for spiritual study instead of letting household concerns occupy all your attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttachment Can Obstruct Spiritual ImprovementThis 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 10.20.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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