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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 37: The Killing of the Demons Keśi and Vyoma
10.37.10-1110.37.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.37.12

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 10.37.10-11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आत्मनात्माश्रय: पूर्वं मायया ससृजे गुणान् ।

तैरिदं सत्यसङ्कल्प: सृजस्यत्स्यवसीश्वर: ॥ १२ ॥

ātmanātmāśrayaḥ pūrvaṁ

māyayā sasṛje guṇān

tair idaṁ satya-saṅkalpaḥ

sṛjasy atsy avasīśvaraḥ

Translation

You are the shelter of all souls, and being the supreme controller, You fulfill Your desires simply by Your will. By Your personal creative potency You manifested in the beginning the primal modes of material nature, and through their agency You create, maintain and then destroy this universe.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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 Shelters Souls and Governs the Universe

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the shelter of all souls and the supreme controller. He fulfills His desires simply by His will.

  2. 2

    By His personal creative potency, He manifested the primal modes of material nature in the beginning.

  3. 3

    Through these modes, He creates, maintains, and then destroys the universe.

How it feels

Attachment → Impending loss. The approach of departure gives pastoral love a poignant edge.

Chapters 34–38 of Canto 10: Further Vraja events and Akrūra's arrival. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 37: The Killing of the Demons Keśi and Vyoma

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Lord then thrust His left arm into the horse demon’s mouth, and as Keśī tried to bite the arm, it felt like a red-hot iron rod. Kṛṣṇa’s arm expanded more and more, finally choking the demon, and in extreme agony Keśī gave up his life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.37
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātmanāby Your personal potency
  2. ātmaof the spirit soul
  3. āśrayaḥthe shelter
  4. pūrvamfirst
  5. māyayāby Your creative energy
  6. sasṛjeYou produced
  7. guṇānthe basic modes of material nature
  8. taiḥthrough these
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 10.37

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.37

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

What does recognizing Kṛṣṇa as your shelter mean for your devotional service today?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as your shelter, then dedicate one small act of service to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Shelters Souls and Governs the UniverseThis 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 10.37.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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