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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 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vṛndāvana
10.20.410.20.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.20.5

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अष्टौ मासान् निपीतं यद् भूम्याश्चोदमयं वसु ।

स्वगोभिर्मोक्तुमारेभे पर्जन्य: काल आगते ॥ ५ ॥

aṣṭau māsān nipītaṁ yad

bhūmyāś coda-mayaṁ vasu

sva-gobhir moktum ārebhe

parjanyaḥ kāla āgate

Translation

With its rays, the sun had for eight months drunk up the earth’s wealth in the form of water. Now that the proper time had arrived, the sun began releasing this accumulated wealth.

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.

Collected Wealth Should Serve Public Welfare

  1. 1

    The sun had drawn up the earth’s wealth of water for eight months and released it when needed. The ācāryas compare this to a king’s collecting taxes.

  2. 2

    Just as water returns to nourish the earth, collected taxes must return to the people through education, public works, sanitation, and similar services.

  3. 3

    Good government should use taxes for public welfare, not simply collect them for useless squandering.

Key points from the purport
  • The ācāryas compare the sun’s evaporating the earth’s wealth of water to a king’s collecting taxes.
  • Continually for eight months the sun evaporates all kinds of water from the surface of the globe, and this water is accumulated in the shape of clouds, which are distributed as water when there is need.
  • When there is again need of water on the surface of the globe, the same sunshine converts the water into clouds and distributes it all over the globe.

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. aṣṭaueight
  2. māsānduring months
  3. nipītamdrunk
  4. yatwhich
  5. bhūmyāḥof the earth
  6. caand
  7. uda-mayamconsisting of water
  8. vasuthe wealth
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • 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: “king’s”, “government”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “welfare”

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 can resources entrusted to you be used for others’ welfare rather than wasted?

Practice

Use a small resource available to you today to meet a practical need shared by others.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCollected Wealth Should Serve Public WelfareThis 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 10.20.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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