1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.23.26

Who is speaking and story frame

नन्वद्धा मयि कुर्वन्ति कुशला: स्वार्थदर्शिन: ।

अहैतुक्यव्यवहितां भक्तिमात्मप्रिये यथा ॥ २६ ॥

nanv addhā mayi kurvanti

kuśalāḥ svārtha-darśinaḥ

ahaituky avyavahitāṁ

bhaktim ātma-priye yathā

Translation

Certainly expert personalities, who can see their own true interest, render unmotivated and uninterrupted devotional service directly unto Me, for I am most dear to the soul.

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.

Loving Service Is Our True Interest

  1. 1

    All who recognize their true self-interest take to loving service to the Lord. Kṛṣṇa is the real object of love for everyone.

  2. 2

    Every living being is a spiritual spark of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Our primary loving attraction is therefore naturally meant for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Devotional service should be without personal motive and uninterrupted. Mental speculation, selfish desire, and changing circumstances should not obstruct it.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord informed the brāhmaṇas’ wives that not only they but all people who recognize their true self-interest take to the spiritual process of loving service to the Lord.
  • Although each individual has his own taste and freedom, ultimately every living being is a spiritual spark of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; thus everyone’s primary loving attraction is constitutionally meant for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • Loving service to the Lord should be ahaitukī, without personal motive, and avyavahitā, unobstructed by mental speculation, selfish desire or any quirk of time and circumstance.

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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Kṛṣṇa told the women that while one can develop transcendental love for Him by seeing His Deity form in the temple, meditating upon Him and chanting His glories, one cannot achieve this result simply by being in His physical presence. He advised them that since they were housewives, their particular duty was to help their husbands perform sacrifices.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanucertainly
  2. addhādirectly
  3. mayiunto Me
  4. kurvantithey perform
  5. kuśalāḥthose who are expert
  6. sva-arthatheir own true benefit
  7. darśinaḥwho perceive
  8. ahaitukīunmotivated
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “love”

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

What personal expectation could I set aside in my service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Give a few uninterrupted minutes to devotional service today without asking for a personal reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Is Our True InterestThis 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 10.23.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.