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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 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.3.1810.3.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.19

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vasudevasince 10.3.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वत्तोऽस्य जन्मस्थितिसंयमान् विभो

वदन्त्यनीहादगुणादविक्रियात् ।

त्वयीश्वरे ब्रह्मणि नो विरुध्यते

त्वदाश्रयत्वादुपचर्यते गुणै: ॥ १९ ॥

tvatto ’sya janma-sthiti-saṁyamān vibho

vadanty anīhād aguṇād avikriyāt

tvayīśvare brahmaṇi no virudhyate

tvad-āśrayatvād upacaryate guṇaiḥ

Translation

O my Lord, learned Vedic scholars conclude that the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the entire cosmic manifestation are performed by You, who are free from endeavor, unaffected by the modes of material nature, and changeless in Your spiritual situation. There are no contradictions in You, who are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman. Because the three modes of material nature — sattva, rajas and tamas — are under Your control, everything takes place automatically.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Directs Everything Without Changing

  1. 1

    Creation, maintenance and annihilation take place under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His many energies carry out everything naturally and systematically.

  2. 2

    The Lord remains changeless and unaffected by the modes of material nature. Although everything depends on Him, He does not need to labor.

  3. 3

    When servants perform their duties, their work is counted as the master’s activity even while he sits still. Similarly, the Lord is the master of creation, although His energies perform the work.

Key points from the purport
  • Yet ultimately the Lord does not need to do anything, and therefore He is nirvikāra, changeless.
  • Because everything is done under His direction, He is called sṛṣṭi-kartā, the master of creation.
  • Therefore, He is naturally still and is not directly the doer of anything in this material world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

For the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material world, the Lord appears as the guṇa-avatāras — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara. Thus Vasudeva offered prayers full of meaning to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvattaḥare from Your Lordship
  2. asyaof the entire cosmic manifestation
  3. janmathe creation
  4. sthitimaintenance
  5. saṁyamānand annihilation
  6. vibhoO my Lord
  7. vadantithe learned Vedic scholars conclude
  8. anīhātwho are free from endeavor
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “duties”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that everything works under the Lord’s direction deepen my reverence for Him?

Practice

Reread the translation once, then offer a brief prayer of respect to the Supreme Lord whose energies carry out everything.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Directs Everything Without ChangingThis 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 10.3.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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