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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 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill
10.25.1610.25.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.25.17

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.25.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न हि सद्भ‍ावयुक्तानां सुराणामीशविस्मय: । मत्तोऽसतां मानभङ्ग: प्रशमायोपकल्पते ॥ १७ ॥

na hi sad-bhāva-yuktānāṁ

surāṇām īśa-vismayaḥ

matto ’satāṁ māna-bhaṅgaḥ

praśamāyopakalpate

Translation

Since the demigods are endowed with the mode of goodness, the false pride of considering oneself the Lord should certainly not affect them. When I break the false prestige of those bereft of goodness, My purpose is to bring them relief.

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.

Freedom From Pride Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The demigods are deputed servants of the Supreme Lord, serving Him through cosmic administration. When they deviate from proper behavior, they act as conditioned souls rather than as demigods.

  2. 2

    False prestige is an anxiety-ridden burden that prevents true peace and satisfaction. The Lord breaks such pride to relieve His servant and save him from impiety.

  3. 3

    Advanced devotional service uses worldly opulence honestly and solely for the Lord’s pleasure. Kṛṣṇa brought Indra to his senses because he had forgotten that he was a humble servant of God.

Key points from the purport
  • The demigods are supposed to be sad-bhāva-yukta, endowed with spiritual existence, since they are deputed servants of the Supreme Lord.
  • Therefore as demigods, or as servants of the Lord, their existence is pure (sad-bhāva).
  • In this particular case, Lord Indra forgot that he was a humble servant of God, and Lord Kṛṣṇa therefore arranged to bring this bewildered demigod to his senses.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.25.17 quotesBG 4.24

In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.24) it is stated: “That which is duly offered to the Lord becomes spiritualized.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Understanding that this trouble was the work of Indra, Kṛṣṇa decided to smash to pieces Indra’s false prestige, and thus He lifted Govardhana Hill with one hand. He then invited the entire cowherd community to take shelter in the dry space beneath the mountain.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. hicertainly
  3. sat-bhāvawith the mode of goodness
  4. yuktānāmwho are endowed
  5. surāṇāmof the demigods
  6. īśaas controlling lords
  7. vismayaḥfalse identification
  8. mattaḥby Me
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “pride”, “humble”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “administration”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I using what I have for the Lord’s pleasure or to strengthen my own prestige?

Practice

Use one resource you have—time, ability, or possessions—for a small act of devotional service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFreedom From Pride Through Devotional ServiceThis 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.

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