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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 24: Worshiping Govardhana Hill
10.24.1510.24.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.24.16

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.24.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्वभावतन्त्रो हि जन: स्वभावमनुवर्तते । स्वभावस्थमिदं सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् ॥ १६ ॥

svabhāva-tantro hi janaḥ

svabhāvam anuvartate

svabhāva-stham idaṁ sarvaṁ

sa-devāsura-mānuṣam

Translation

Every individual is under the control of his own conditioned nature, and thus he must follow that nature. This entire universe, with all its demigods, demons and human beings, is based on the conditioned nature of the living entities.

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.

Conditioned Nature Is Not Supreme

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa describes the universe and its living beings as governed by their conditioned nature, or svabhāva.

  2. 2

    His argument suggests that worship would be unnecessary if conditioned nature controlled everything. The purport explains that conditioned nature is not all-powerful.

  3. 3

    There is a supreme controller whom we must worship. Kṛṣṇa is teasing His relatives rather than denying this truth.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa here elaborates upon the argument given in the previous verse.
  • Since everything depends on svabhāva, or one’s conditioned nature, why bother worshiping God or the demigods?
  • This argument would be sublime if svabhāva, or conditioned nature, were all-powerful.

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 24: Worshiping Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Kṛṣṇa responded, “It is because of karma alone that living entities take their birth in a certain body, experience varieties of happiness and suffering in that body, and then give it up as the karma pertaining to it runs out. Thus it is karma alone that is our enemy, our friend, our guru and our lord, and Indra can do nothing to alter the happiness and distress of anyone, for everyone is tightly bound by his karmic reactions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. svabhāvaof his conditioned nature
  2. tantraḥunder the control
  3. hiindeed
  4. janaḥa person
  5. svabhāvamhis nature
  6. anuvartatehe follows
  7. svabhāva-sthambased on conditioned propensities
  8. idamthis world
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “governed”

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

Do I treat my conditioned habits as though they have the final authority over me?

Practice

When a familiar habit pulls at you today, pause for a moment of worship rather than simply following it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConditioned Nature Is Not SupremeThis 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 10.24.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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