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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
10.24.1910.24.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.24.20

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.24.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वर्तेत ब्रह्मणा विप्रो राजन्यो रक्षया भुव: । वैश्यस्तु वार्तया जीवेच्छूद्रस्तु द्विजसेवया ॥ २० ॥

varteta brahmaṇā vipro

rājanyo rakṣayā bhuvaḥ

vaiśyas tu vārtayā jīvec

chūdras tu dvija-sevayā

Translation

The brāhmaṇa maintains his life by studying and teaching the Vedas, the member of the royal order by protecting the earth, the vaiśya by trade, and the śūdra by serving the higher, twice-born classes.

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.

Prescribed Duty Is Not Whimsical Activity

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa maintains life by studying and teaching the Vedas, while the royal order protects the earth.

  2. 2

    The vaiśya lives by trade, and the śūdra by serving the higher, twice-born classes.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is explaining duties born of one’s nature within varṇāśrama, the Vedic social system. He is referring to prescribed religious duties, not any activity chosen on a whim.

Key points from the purport
  • After glorifying karma, or work, Lord Kṛṣṇa now explains what He means by prescribed duties born of one’s nature.
  • He was not referring to any whimsical activity, but rather to the religious duties prescribed in the varṇāśrama, or Vedic social system.

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:

The clouds give forth rain when they are impelled by the mode of passion, and cowherds prosper by protecting the cows. Furthermore, the cowherds’ proper residence is in the forest and on the hills.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vartetalives
  2. brahmaṇāby the Vedas
  3. vipraḥthe brāhmaṇa
  4. rājanyaḥthe member of the ruling class
  5. rakṣayāby protection
  6. bhuvaḥof the earth
  7. vaiśyaḥthe vaiśya
  8. tuon the other hand
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “protecting”, “protects”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”, “varṇāśrama”

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 approach my responsibilities thoughtfully, or simply follow whatever impulse arises?

Practice

Choose one existing responsibility and carry it out carefully today instead of setting it aside for a passing impulse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrescribed Duty Is Not Whimsical ActivityThis 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 10.24.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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