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

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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 23: The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed
10.23.4210.23.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.23.43-44

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

नासां द्विजातिसंस्कारो न निवासो गुरावपि ।

न तपो नात्ममीमांसा न शौचं न क्रिया: शुभा: ॥ ४३ ॥

तथापि ह्युत्तम:श्लोके कृष्णे योगेश्वरेश्वरे ।

भक्तिर्दृढा न चास्माकं संस्कारादिमतामपि ॥ ४४ ॥

nāsāṁ dvijāti-saṁskāro

na nivāso gurāv api

na tapo nātma-mīmāṁsā

na śaucaṁ na kriyāḥ śubhāḥ

tathāpi hy uttamaḥ-śloke

kṛṣṇe yogeśvareśvare

bhaktir dṛḍhā na cāsmākaṁ

saṁskārādimatām api

Translation

These women have never undergone the purificatory rites of the twice-born classes, nor have they lived as brahmacārīs in the āśrama of a spiritual master, nor have they executed austerities, speculated on the nature of the self, followed the formalities of cleanliness or engaged in pious rituals. Nevertheless, they have firm devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose glories are chanted by the exalted hymns of the Vedas and who is the supreme master of all masters of mystic power. We, on the other hand, have no such devotion for the Lord, although we have executed all these processes.

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.

Devotion Grows Through Hearing With Devotees

  1. 1

    The wives had firm devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa without having undergone the religious training and rituals their husbands had completed.

  2. 2

    They had associated with residents of Vṛndāvana and heard about Kṛṣṇa’s beauty and qualities. Their husbands were unaware of this association.

  3. 3

    Their loving devotion developed through hearing and chanting about the Lord in the association of His pure devotees. Religious accomplishments alone had not given their husbands such devotion.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.