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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
10.3.2610.3.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.27

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Devakīsince 10.3.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मर्त्यो मृत्युव्यालभीत: पलायन्‌

लोकान् सर्वान्निर्भयं नाध्यगच्छत् ।

त्वत्पादाब्जं प्राप्य यद‍ृच्छयाद्य

सुस्थ: शेते मृत्युरस्मादपैति ॥ २७ ॥

martyo mṛtyu-vyāla-bhītaḥ palāyan

lokān sarvān nirbhayaṁ nādhyagacchat

tvat pādābjaṁ prāpya yadṛcchayādya

susthaḥ śete mṛtyur asmād apaiti

Translation

No one in this material world has become free from the four principles birth, death, old age and disease, even by fleeing to various planets. But now that You have appeared, My Lord, death is fleeing in fear of You, and the living entities, having obtained shelter at Your lotus feet by Your mercy, are sleeping in full mental peace.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s Feet Brings Peace

  1. 1

    Going to higher planets and gaining a longer life cannot free anyone from death. Everyone in the material world, from Brahmā to the insignificant ant, must die.

  2. 2

    Every living entity is eternal but wanders through material bodies. By the mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa, a fortunate person takes to devotional service.

  3. 3

    A devotee who understands Kṛṣṇa as He is need not return to this material world after leaving the body. Taking shelter of the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet brings the assurance that allows devotees to rest peacefully.

Key points from the purport
  • In this material world, everyone from Brahmā to the insignificant ant must die.
  • As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (8.16), ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino ’rjuna: as long as one is within this material world, either on Brahmaloka or on any other loka within this universe, one must undergo the kāla-cakra of one life after another (bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate).
  • If one has gone to the moon, why should he return to this planet, where life is of a very short duration?

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 4

The purport of SB 10.3.27 quotesBG 8.17

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (8.17), sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ: one day of Brahmā equals 1,000 yugas, and each yuga consists of 4,300,000 years.

The purport of SB 10.3.27 quotesBG 8.16

As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (8.16), ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino ’rjuna: as long as one is within this material world, either on Brahmaloka or on any other loka within this universe, one must undergo the kāla-cakra of one life after another (bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate).

The purport of SB 10.3.27 quotesBG 4.9

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti: after giving up the present body, a devotee who has understood Kṛṣṇa as He is need not return to this material world.

The purport of SB 10.3.27 quotesCC Madhya 19.151

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. Everyone is wandering up and down within this universe, but one who is sufficiently fortunate comes in contact with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, by the mercy of the spiritual master, and takes to the path of devotional service.

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

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:

Thus Vasudeva offered prayers full of meaning to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Devakī followed her husband by offering prayers describing the transcendental nature of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. martyaḥthe living entities who are sure to die
  2. mṛtyu-vyāla-bhītaḥafraid of the serpent of death
  3. palāyanrunning (as soon as a serpent is seen, everyone runs away, fearing immediate death)
  4. lokānto the different planets
  5. sarvānall
  6. nirbhayamfearlessness
  7. na adhyagacchatdo not obtain
  8. tvat-pāda-abjamof Your lotus feet
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I seeking lasting safety, and how can I turn toward Kṛṣṇa’s shelter?

Practice

Before sleeping, offer a short prayer asking for shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and help in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShelter at Kṛṣṇa’s Feet Brings PeaceThis 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 10.3.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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