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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
10.24.710.24.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.24.8

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nanda Mahārājasince 10.24.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीनन्द उवाच

पर्जन्यो भगवानिन्द्रो मेघास्तस्यात्ममूर्तय: । तेऽभिवर्षन्ति भूतानां प्रीणनं जीवनं पय: ॥ ८ ॥

śrī-nanda uvāca

parjanyo bhagavān indro

meghās tasyātma-mūrtayaḥ

te ’bhivarṣanti bhūtānāṁ

prīṇanaṁ jīvanaṁ payaḥ

Translation

Nanda Mahārāja replied: The great Lord Indra is the controller of the rain. The clouds are his personal representatives, and they directly provide rainwater, which gives happiness and sustenance to all creatures.

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.

Recognize the Life-Giving Value of Rain

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja explained that Indra controls the rain and that the clouds are his personal representatives.

  2. 2

    The clouds provide rainwater, bringing happiness and sustenance to all creatures.

  3. 3

    Without clean rainwater, the earth could not provide food or drink, nor could there be cleanliness. The value of rain is difficult to overestimate.

Key points from the purport
  • Without clean rainwater, the earth could not possibly provide food or drink for anyone, nor could there be cleanliness.
  • Thus it would be difficult to overestimate the value of rain.

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:

Nanda explained that the rain given by Indra enables all living entities to maintain their lives, and therefore this sacrifice would be executed to satisfy him. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nandaḥ uvācaŚrī Nanda Mahārāja said
  2. parjanyaḥthe rain
  3. bhagavānthe great lord
  4. indraḥIndra
  5. meghāḥthe clouds
  6. tasyahis
  7. ātma-mūrtayaḥpersonal representatives
  8. tethey
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”

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

How often do I notice that my food, drink and cleanliness depend on rain?

Practice

At one meal today, pause to consider how rain made your food and drink possible.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Life-Giving Value of RainThis 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 10.24.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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