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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 38: Akrūra’s Arrival in Vṛndāvana
10.38.1710.38.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.38.18

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.38.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न मय्युपैष्यत्यरिबुद्धिमच्युत:

कंसस्य दूत: प्रहितोऽपि विश्वद‍ृक् ।

योऽन्तर्बहिश्चेतस एतदीहितं

क्षेत्रज्ञ ईक्षत्यमलेन चक्षुषा ॥ १८ ॥

na mayy upaiṣyaty ari-buddhim acyutaḥ

kaṁsasya dūtaḥ prahito ’pi viśva-dṛk

yo ’ntar bahiś cetasa etad īhitaṁ

kṣetra-jña īkṣaty amalena cakṣuṣā

Translation

The infallible Lord will not consider me an enemy, even though Kaṁsa has sent me here as his messenger. After all, the omniscient Lord is the actual knower of the field of this material body, and with His perfect vision He witnesses, both externally and internally, all the endeavors of the conditioned soul’s heart.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Knows the Devotee’s Heart

  1. 1

    Akrūra trusts that the infallible Lord will not regard him as an enemy, although Kaṁsa has sent him as a messenger.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa knows that Akrūra is only externally a friend of Kaṁsa. Internally, he is an eternal devotee of the Lord.

  3. 3

    The omniscient Lord knows the field of the material body. With perfect vision, He witnesses all the heart’s endeavors, both externally and internally.

Key points from the purport
  • Being omniscient, Lord Kṛṣṇa knew that Akrūra was only externally a friend of Kaṁsa.
  • Internally he was an eternal devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

The purport'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

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 38: Akrūra’s Arrival in Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

I will descend from my chariot and fall at the feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and even though I have been sent by Kaṁsa, the omniscient Śrī Kṛṣṇa will certainly harbor no animosity toward me.” As Akrūra thus thought to himself, he arrived in Gokula at sunset.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.38
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. mayitoward me
  3. upaiṣyatiwill He develop
  4. ariof being an enemy
  5. buddhimthe attitude
  6. acyutaḥthe infallible Lord
  7. kaṁsasyaof Kaṁsa
  8. dūtaḥa messenger
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 10.38

    In this verse: “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.38

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.38

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

Knowing that Kṛṣṇa sees my heart, what intention would I like to make more sincere?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and honestly offer your intention to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.38's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Knows the Devotee’s HeartThis 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 10.38.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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