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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.3.3910.3.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.40

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 10.3.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गते मयि युवां लब्ध्वा वरं मत्सद‍ृशं सुतम् ।

ग्राम्यान् भोगानभुञ्जाथां युवां प्राप्तमनोरथौ ॥ ४० ॥

gate mayi yuvāṁ labdhvā

varaṁ mat-sadṛśaṁ sutam

grāmyān bhogān abhuñjāthāṁ

yuvāṁ prāpta-manorathau

Translation

After you received that benediction and I disappeared, you engaged yourselves in sex to have a son like Me, and I fulfilled your desire.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Become Free From Material Enjoyment

  1. 1

    After receiving the Lord’s benediction, the couple united to have a son like Him. The Lord fulfilled their desire.

  2. 2

    The purport calls sexual enjoyment grāmya-dharma, material desire, which is not highly valued in spiritual life.

  3. 3

    Even a slight attachment to the material enjoyments of eating, sleeping, mating and defending means one is not niṣkiñcana. The teaching is to become free from such desires, rather than seek a child like Kṛṣṇa through sexual enjoyment.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the Sanskrit dictionary Amara-kośa, sex life is also called grāmya-dharma, material desire, but in spiritual life this grāmya-dharma, the material desire for sex, is not very much appreciated.
  • If one has a tinge of attachment for the material enjoyments of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, one is not niṣkiñcana.
  • Therefore, one should be free from the desire to beget a child like Kṛṣṇa by sexual enjoyment.

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:

He had appeared as Pṛśnigarbha and Vāmanadeva, and now this was the third time He was appearing as the son of Devakī to fulfill their desire. The Lord then decided to leave the residence of Vasudeva and Devakī, in the prison house of Kaṁsa, and at this very time, Yoga-māyā took birth as the daughter of Yaśodā.
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. gate mayiafter My departure
  2. yuvāmboth of you (husband and wife)
  3. labdhvāafter receiving
  4. varamthe benediction of (having a son)
  5. mat-sadṛśamexactly like Me
  6. sutama son
  7. grāmyān bhogānengagement in sex
  8. abhuñjāthāmenjoyed
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “child”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which attachment to material enjoyment most often occupies my thoughts?

Practice

Pause before one unnecessary indulgence today and reflect on the aim of becoming free from material desire.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBecome Free From Material EnjoymentThis 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 10.3.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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