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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.39.44-45

Who is speaking and story frame

भूयस्तत्रापि सोऽद्राक्षीत्स्तूयमानमहीश्वरम् ।

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैरसुरैर्नतकन्धरै: ॥ ४४ ॥

सहस्रशिरसं देवं सहस्रफणमौलिनम् ।

नीलाम्बरं विसश्वेतं श‍ृङ्गै: श्वेतमिव स्थितम् ॥ ४५ ॥

bhūyas tatrāpi so ’drākṣīt

stūyamānam ahīśvaram

siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvair

asurair nata-kandharaiḥ

sahasra-śirasaṁ devaṁ

sahasra-phaṇa-maulinam

nīlāmbaraṁ visa-śvetaṁ

śṛṅgaiḥ śvetam iva sthitam

Translation

There Akrūra now saw Ananta Śeṣa, the Lord of the serpents, receiving praise from Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas and demons, who all had their heads bowed. The Personality of Godhead whom Akrūra saw had thousands of heads, thousands of hoods and thousands of helmets. His blue garment and His fair complexion, as white as the filaments of a lotus stem, made Him appear like white Kailāsa Mountain with its many peaks.

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.

Ananta Śeṣa Receives Reverent Praise

  1. 1

    Akrūra saw Ananta Śeṣa, the Lord of the serpents. The translation identifies Him as the Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas and demons praised Him with their heads bowed.

  3. 3

    He had thousands of heads, hoods and helmets. His blue garment and lotus-white complexion made Him appear like white Kailāsa Mountain with its many peaks.

How it feels

Anxiety and conflict → Liberation and joy. Heroic victory is complicated by separation from Vraja.

Chapters 39–45 of Canto 10: Mathurā, Kaṁsa and reunion with parents. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 39: Akrūra’s Vision

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

His complexion was dark blue like a fresh raincloud, He wore yellow garments and He lay on the lap of thousand-hooded Ananta Śeṣa. Lord Vāsudeva was receiving the prayers of perfected beings, celestial serpents and demons, and He was encircled by His personal attendants.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.39
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhūyaḥagain
  2. tatra apiin that same place
  3. saḥhe
  4. adrākṣītsaw
  5. stūyamānambeing praised
  6. ahi-īśvaramthe Lord of serpents (Ananta Śeṣa, the plenary expansion of Lord Balarāma who serves as the bed of Viṣṇu)
  7. siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvaiḥby Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Gandharvas
  8. asuraiḥand by demons
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

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

How might the bowed heads of those praising the Lord shape your own attitude in prayer?

Practice

Bow your head and offer one simple sentence of praise to the Lord today.

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.

Live this todayAnanta Śeṣa Receives Reverent PraiseThis 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 10.39.44-45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.