1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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
10.27.310.27.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.27.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Indrasince 10.27.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इन्द्र उवाच

विशुद्धसत्त्वं तव धाम शान्तंतपोमयं ध्वस्तरजस्तमस्कम् । मायामयोऽयं गुणसम्प्रवाहोन विद्यते तेऽग्रहणानुबन्ध: ॥ ४ ॥

indra uvāca

viśuddha-sattvaṁ tava dhāma śāntaṁ

tapo-mayaṁ dhvasta-rajas-tamaskam

māyā-mayo ’yaṁ guṇa-sampravāho

na vidyate te grahaṇānubandhaḥ

Translation

King Indra said: Your transcendental form, a manifestation of pure goodness, is undisturbed by change, shining with knowledge and devoid of passion and ignorance. In You does not exist the mighty flow of the modes of material nature, which is based on illusion and ignorance.

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.

Kṛṣṇa’s Form Is Pure Spiritual Existence

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is nondifferent from His transcendental body. Unlike Him, we are eternal souls distinct from our temporary bodies.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s form is pure goodness, free from passion, ignorance and all material change. He is eternally pure and all-powerful.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s self-effulgent body illuminates consciousness with perfect knowledge. Failure to understand our spiritual position draws us into material existence, whereas the pure soul can enjoy Kṛṣṇa consciousness unlimitedly.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore one who is free from the material modes of nature is changeless and eternally satisfied in blissful spiritual existence.
  • Thus the word śāntam indicates that the Lord is undisturbed by change, since He is free from the material modes of nature.
  • According to this verse, the powerful flow of the material modes of nature — namely passion, stupidity and mundane piety — are based on agrahaṇa, which Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has translated as “ignorance.”

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:

Indra stated that although Śrī Kṛṣṇa is never caught in the current of material illusion, which is born of ignorance, He nevertheless accepts a humanlike body and performs various activities to establish religious principles and chastise the wicked. By this means He crushes the false prestige of those who presume themselves great controllers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. indraḥ uvācaIndra said
  2. viśuddha-sattvammanifesting transcendental goodness
  3. tavaYour
  4. dhāmaform
  5. śāntamchangeless
  6. tapaḥ-mayamfull of knowledge
  7. dhvastadestroyed
  8. rajaḥthe mode of passion
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “king”

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 would remembering that I am an eternal soul change what I value today?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting: Kṛṣṇa’s form is spiritual and changeless, and I am a soul, not this temporary body.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Form Is Pure Spiritual ExistenceThis 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 10.27.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories