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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 27: Lord Indra and Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers
10.27.1410.27.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.27.15

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 10.27.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीभगवानुवाच

मया तेऽकारि मघवन् मखभङ्गोऽनुगृह्णता । मदनुस्मृतये नित्यं मत्तस्येन्द्र श्रिया भृशम् ॥ १५ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

mayā te ’kāri maghavan

makha-bhaṅgo ’nugṛhṇatā

mad-anusmṛtaye nityaṁ

mattasyendra-śriyā bhṛśam

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Indra, it was out of mercy that I stopped the sacrifice meant for you. You were greatly intoxicated by your opulence as King of heaven, and I wanted you to always remember Me.

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.

Mercy Brings Us Back to Remembrance

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa reveals that He stopped Indra’s sacrifice out of mercy. Indra was intoxicated by his heavenly opulence, and the Lord wanted him always to remember Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord is self-satisfied; He does not seek attention like a worldly politician or entertainer. He lovingly brings us back to our perfect existence as His eternal associates.

  3. 3

    Like a caring father correcting a child, Kṛṣṇa punished Indra to bring him back to the sanity of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, Indra and Lord Kṛṣṇa here exchange a heart-to-heart talk.
  • In text 11 of this chapter, Indra emphatically declared that Lord Kṛṣṇa is in fact everything, and thus, according to Indra’s own criteria, forgetting Lord Kṛṣṇa is clearly a state of insanity.
  • From God’s point of view even the mighty King of heaven, Indra, is a mere child — and a naughty child at that — and thus the Lord, being a caring father, punished His child and brought him back to the sanity of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 27: Lord Indra and Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Satisfied with Indra’s prayers, Śrī Kṛṣṇa told him that He had stopped the indra-yajña so that Indra, puffed up as he was with false pride, would remember the Lord. Persons intoxicated by material opulence never see Him standing before them with the rod of punishment in His hand.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. mayāby Me
  3. teunto you
  4. akārihas been done
  5. maghavanMy dear Indra
  6. makhaof your sacrifice
  7. bhaṅgaḥthe stopping
  8. anugṛhṇatāacting to show mercy to you
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “father”, “child”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

What comfort or success most easily makes me forget Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa and pray to remain conscious of Him amid your comforts.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy Brings Us Back to RemembranceThis 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 10.27.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.