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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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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 29: Kṛṣṇa and the Gopīs Meet for the Rāsa Dance
10.29.2410.29.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.29.25

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.29.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दु:शीलो दुर्भगो वृद्धो जडो रोग्यधनोऽपि वा ।

पति: स्त्रीभिर्न हातव्यो लोकेप्सुभिरपातकी ॥ २५ ॥

duḥśīlo durbhago vṛddho

jaḍo rogy adhano ’pi vā

patiḥ strībhir na hātavyo

lokepsubhir apātakī

Translation

Women who desire a good destination in the next life should never abandon a husband who has not fallen from his religious standards, even if he is obnoxious, unfortunate, old, unintelligent, sickly or poor.

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 Consciousness Comes Before Misused Authority

  1. 1

    The instruction not to abandon a husband despite poverty, sickness or other shortcomings includes an essential condition: he has not fallen from religious standards.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be subordinated to another religious principle. A guru who engages a follower in materialistic, sinful activities loses his status as a guru.

  3. 3

    Guidance should be pure, sincere and grounded in spiritual life, not abuse or exploitation. The gopīs, as eternal lovers of the Absolute Truth, are beyond positive and negative religious considerations.

Key points from the purport
  • Sometimes the foolish argument is given that even if a husband falls down from spiritual principles, his wife should continue to follow him since he is her “ guru.”
  • In fact, since Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be subordinated to any other religious principle, a guru who engages his follower in materialistic, sinful activities loses his status as a guru.
  • Ideally, men should be staunch in spiritual life and give pure, sincere guidance to the women under their care.

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

Separation → Transcendental intimacy. The peak of longing reveals the intensity of selfless love.

Chapters 29–33 of Canto 10: The gopīs' yearning, reunion and rasa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 29: Kṛṣṇa and the Gopīs Meet for the Rāsa Dance

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After all, the prime religious duty of a woman is to serve her husband and children. For a respectable woman to consort with a paramour is totally contemptible and sure to obstruct her progress to heaven.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. duḥśīlaḥof bad character
  2. durbhagaḥunfortunate
  3. vṛddhaḥold
  4. jaḍaḥretarded
  5. rogīsickly
  6. adhanaḥpoor
  7. api vāeven
  8. patiḥthe husband
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “religious”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “lovers”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “materialistic”

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

Do I distinguish sincere spiritual guidance from authority that draws someone away from spiritual principles?

Practice

Write down the purport’s standard for guidance: pure, sincere and steadfast in spiritual life.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Consciousness Comes Before Misused AuthorityThis 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 10.29.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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