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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana
10.20.4810.21.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.20.49

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वणिङ्‍मुनिनृपस्‍नाता निर्गम्यार्थान् प्रपेदिरे ।

वर्षरुद्धा यथा सिद्धा: स्वपिण्डान् काल आगते ॥ ४९ ॥

vaṇiṅ-muni-nṛpa-snātā

nirgamyārthān prapedire

varṣa-ruddhā yathā siddhāḥ

sva-piṇḍān kāla āgate

Translation

The merchants, sages, kings and brahmacārī students, kept in by the rain, were at last free to go out and attain their desired objects, just as those who achieve perfection in this life can, when the proper time comes, leave the material body and attain their respective forms.

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.

Spiritual Perfection Leads to One’s Destination

  1. 1

    After being confined by the rains, merchants, sages, kings and brahmacārī students could go out and attain their desired objects. Autumn in Vṛndāvana was especially beautiful because of the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

  2. 2

    Similarly, perfected transcendentalists attain their respective destinations after leaving the material body. The jñānī merges into the Supreme Lord’s spiritual effulgence, while the yogī goes to higher planets.

  3. 3

    The devotee goes to the Supreme Lord’s planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana or one of the Vaikuṇṭhas. There the devotee enjoys eternal spiritual life.

Key points from the purport
  • The mercantile community, the royal order and great sages were free to move to achieve their desired benedictions.
  • During the rainy season, the mercantile community cannot move from one place to another and so do not get their desired profit.
  • In the case of the transcendentalist, be he a jñānī, a yogī or a devotee, because of the material body he cannot actually enjoy spiritual achievement.

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. vaṇikthe merchants
  2. munirenunciant sages
  3. nṛpakings
  4. snātāḥand brahmacārī students
  5. nirgamyagoing out
  6. arthāntheir desired objects
  7. prapedireobtained
  8. varṣaby the rain
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.20

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 devotee’s destination help clarify the goal of my spiritual practice?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on eternal spiritual life with the Supreme Lord as the goal of your devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Perfection Leads to One’s DestinationThis 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 10.20.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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