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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 10.23.30

Who is speaking and story frame

गृह्णन्ति नो न पतय: पितरौ सुता वा

न भ्रातृबन्धुसुहृद: कुत एव चान्ये ।

तस्माद् भवत्प्रपदयो: पतितात्मनां नो

नान्या भवेद् गतिररिन्दम तद् विधेहि ॥ ३० ॥

gṛhṇanti no na patayaḥ pitarau sutā vā

na bhrātṛ-bandhu-suhṛdaḥ kuta eva cānye

tasmād bhavat-prapadayoḥ patitātmanāṁ no

nānyā bhaved gatir arindama tad vidhehi

Translation

Our husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, other relatives and friends will no longer take us back, and how could anyone else be willing to give us shelter? Therefore, since we have thrown ourselves at Your lotus feet and have no other destination, please, O chastiser of enemies, grant our desire.

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.

Kṛṣṇa as the Only Destination

  1. 1

    From their youth, the brāhmaṇas’ wives had heard about Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, qualities, and sweetness. This hearing awakened ecstatic love for Him.

  2. 2

    They placed their heads at His lotus feet and begged that He be their only destination. They asked Him to subdue the difficulties obstructing their attainment of Him.

  3. 3

    The wives simply wanted to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa. The purport calls this pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness in ecstatic love of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Now the wives of the brāhmaṇas were ready to formally reject their so-called families and neighbors, and out of great agitation they were crying and placing their heads upon Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, offering obeisances.
  • They begged that Lord Kṛṣṇa bestow upon them the benediction that He be their only destination, that He, the chastiser of enemies, subdue all their enemies — those difficulties obstructing them from attaining the Lord.”
  • The wives of the brāhmaṇas simply wanted to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa, and this is pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness in ecstatic love of Godhead.

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:

When the ladies went back home, their brāhmaṇa husbands at once felt remorse, and they lamented, “For anyone inimical to Kṛṣṇa, his three births — seminal, brahminical and sacrificial — are all condemned. On the other hand, these womenfolk, who have not undergone the purificatory processes of the brahminical class or performed any austerity or pious rituals, have through devotion for Kṛṣṇa easily cut off the bondage of death.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gṛhṇantithey will accept
  2. naḥus
  3. nanot
  4. patayaḥour husbands
  5. pitaraufathers
  6. sutāḥsons
  7. vāor
  8. nanot
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstatic”, “sweetness”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.23

    In this verse: “fathers”

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 difficulty would I like Kṛṣṇa to help me overcome in serving Him?

Practice

Name one obstacle in a short prayer and ask Kṛṣṇa for help to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa as the Only 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 10.23.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.