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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 10.20.38

Who is speaking and story frame

गाधवारिचरास्तापमविन्दञ्छरदर्कजम् ।

यथा दरिद्र: कृपण: कुटुम्ब्यविजितेन्द्रिय: ॥ ३८ ॥

gādha-vāri-carās tāpam

avindañ charad-arka-jam

yathā daridraḥ kṛpaṇaḥ

kuṭumby avijitendriyaḥ

Translation

Just as a miserly, poverty-stricken person overly absorbed in family life suffers because he cannot control his senses, the fish swimming in the shallow water had to suffer the heat of the autumn sun.

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.

Ignorance and Uncontrolled Senses Do Not Help

  1. 1

    Fish in shallow water suffer the autumn sun’s heat, even though they do not understand their situation.

  2. 2

    Similarly, a person attached to family life may consider ignorance of spiritual life blissful, yet remain disturbed by family problems.

  3. 3

    Uncontrolled senses deepen this suffering. Ignorance does not protect a person from its painful consequences.

Key points from the purport
  • Although, as described in the previous verse, unintelligent fish are not aware of the diminishing water, one may think these fish are still happy according to the old proverb “Ignorance is bliss.”
  • But even the ignorant fish are scorched by the autumn sun.
  • Similarly, although an attached family man may consider his ignorance of spiritual life blissful, he is constantly disturbed by the problems of family life, and, indeed, his uncontrolled senses lead him into a situation of unrelieved anguish.

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. gādha-vāri-carāḥthose who were moving in shallow water
  2. tāpamsuffering
  3. avindanexperienced
  4. śarat-arka-jamdue to the sun in the autumn season
  5. yathāas
  6. daridraḥa poor person
  7. kṛpaṇaḥmiserly
  8. kuṭumbīabsorbed in family life
  9. avijita-indriyaḥwho has not controlled the senses
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Is there a sense demand that you expect to bring happiness but that repeatedly brings distress?

Practice

Refrain from acting on one unnecessary sense demand today, and notice the trouble it might otherwise cause.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIgnorance and Uncontrolled Senses Do Not HelpThis 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 10.20.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.