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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.29.32

Who is speaking and story frame

यत्पत्यपत्यसुहृदामनुवृत्तिरङ्ग

स्त्रीणां स्वधर्म इति धर्मविदा त्वयोक्तम् ।

अस्त्वेवमेतदुपदेशपदे त्वयीशे

प्रेष्ठो भवांस्तनुभृतां किल बन्धुरात्मा ॥ ३२ ॥

yat paty-apatya-suhṛdām anuvṛttir aṅga

strīṇāṁ sva-dharma iti dharma-vidā tvayoktam

astv evam etad upadeśa-pade tvayīśe

preṣṭho bhavāṁs tanu-bhṛtāṁ kila bandhur ātmā

Translation

Our dear Kṛṣṇa, as an expert in religion You have advised us that the proper religious duty for women is to faithfully serve their husbands, children and other relatives. We agree that this principle is valid, but actually this service should be rendered to You. After all, O Lord, You are the dearmost friend of all embodied souls. You are their most intimate relative and indeed their very Self.

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.

Serving the Soul of All Souls

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Soul of all souls, their dearmost friend and well-wisher. The gopīs explain that He is the ultimate object of service.

  2. 2

    All authority comes from the Supreme Lord, and all living beings are His parts and parcels. One who wholeheartedly takes shelter of His service need not serve indirect authorities separately.

  3. 3

    A surrendered soul still serves the spiritual master, who directly represents the Supreme Lord. The bona fide spiritual master is the transparent medium leading the disciple to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lord’s service has no need to serve such persons separately.”
  • Natural figures of authority such as husbands, mothers, government leaders and sages gain their power and authority from the Supreme Lord and should thus represent the Absolute Truth to those who follow them.
  • Even a soul surrendered to God, however, continues to serve the spiritual master, who is a direct, not an indirect, representative of the Supreme Lord.

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· 2

The purport of SB 10.29.32 quotesSB 11.5.41

As stated in the Eleventh Canto of the Bhāgavatam (11.5.41): “O King, one who has given up all material duties and has taken full shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, who offers shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one’s forefathers who have passed away.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.29.9

This fact is clear from verses yet to come: mātaraḥ pitaraḥ putrāḥ, yat-paty-apatya-suhṛdām anuvṛttir aṅga and pati-sutānvaya-bhrātṛ-bāndhavān.

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

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:

By serving our husbands and children we receive only pain, whereas by serving You, the dearmost Soul of all living beings, we will perfectly fulfill the true religious duty of the self. What woman will not deviate from her prescribed duties as soon as she hears Your flute-song and sees Your form, which enchants the three worlds?
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatwhich
  2. patiof husbands
  3. apatyachildren
  4. suhṛdāmand well-wishing relatives and friends
  5. anuvṛttiḥthe following
  6. aṅgaour dear Kṛṣṇa
  7. strīṇāmof women
  8. sva-dharmaḥthe proper religious duty
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”, “duty”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “shelter”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.29

    In this verse: “friend”

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 does seeing Kṛṣṇa as my dearmost friend deepen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa as the Soul of all souls and your dearmost well-wisher.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServing the Soul of All SoulsThis 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 10.29.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.