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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
10.24.510.24.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.24.6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.24.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ज्ञात्वाज्ञात्वा च कर्माणि जनोऽयमनुतिष्ठति । विदुष: कर्मसिद्धि: स्याद् यथा नाविदुषो भवेत् ॥ ६ ॥

jñatvājñātvā ca karmāṇi

jano ’yam anutiṣṭhati

viduṣaḥ karma-siddhiḥ syād

yathā nāviduṣo bhavet

Translation

When people in this world perform activities, sometimes they understand what they are doing and sometimes they don’t. Those who know what they are doing achieve success in their work, whereas ignorant people do not.

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.

Understand Rather Than Follow Blindly

  1. 1

    People sometimes act with understanding and sometimes without it. Kṛṣṇa explained that understanding enables success in one’s work.

  2. 2

    A ceremony or activity should be performed only after thoroughly understanding it through discussion with friends. We should not be blind followers of tradition.

  3. 3

    As Nanda’s young son, Kṛṣṇa would naturally be expected to take interest in His father’s religious activities. It was therefore Nanda’s duty to explain the ceremony thoroughly.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord here informs His father that people should perform a particular ceremony or activity only after thoroughly understanding it through discussion with friends.
  • If a person doesn’t even know what he’s doing, how can he be successful in his work?
  • Since Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as the young child of Nanda, would naturally be expected to show enthusiasm for His father’s religious activities, it was the father’s duty to give the son a thorough explanation of the ceremony.

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 material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance bring about the creation, maintenance and destruction of this world. The clouds give forth rain when they are impelled by the mode of passion, and cowherds prosper by protecting the cows.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jñātvāunderstanding
  2. ajñātvānot understanding
  3. caalso
  4. karmāṇiactivities
  5. janaḥthe common people
  6. ayamthese
  7. anutiṣṭhatiperform
  8. viduṣaḥfor one who is wise
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.24

    In this verse: “nanda’s”, “father’s”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “duty”

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

Which practice do I follow mainly from habit, without understanding its purpose?

Practice

Discuss one religious practice with a trusted friend today to better understand why it is performed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand Rather Than Follow BlindlyThis 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 10.24.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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