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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 10.39.46-48

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्योत्सङ्गे घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ।

पुरुषं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं पद्मपत्रारुणेक्षणम् ॥ ४६ ॥

चारुप्रसन्नवदनं चारुहासनिरीक्षणम् ।

सुभ्रून्नसं चारुकर्णं सुकपोलारुणाधरम् ॥ ४७ ॥

प्रलम्बपीवरभुजं तुङ्गांसोर:स्थलश्रियम् ।

कम्बुकण्ठं निम्ननाभिं वलिमत्पल्लवोदरम् ॥ ४८ ॥

tasyotsaṅge ghana-śyāmaṁ

pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam

puruṣaṁ catur-bhujaṁ śāntam

padma-patrāruṇekṣaṇam

cāru-prasanna-vadanaṁ

cāru-hāsa-nirīkṣaṇam

su-bhrūnnasaṁ caru-karṇaṁ

su-kapolāruṇādharam

pralamba-pīvara-bhujaṁ

tuṅgāṁsoraḥ-sthala-śriyam

kambu-kaṇṭhaṁ nimna-nābhiṁ

valimat-pallavodaram

Translation

Akrūra then saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead lying peacefully on the lap of Lord Ananta Śeṣa. The complexion of that Supreme Person was like a dark-blue cloud. He wore yellow garments and had four arms and reddish lotus-petal eyes. His face looked attractive and cheerful with its smiling, endearing glance and lovely eyebrows, its raised nose and finely formed ears, and its beautiful cheeks and reddish lips. The Lord’s broad shoulders and expansive chest were beautiful, and His arms long and stout. His neck resembled a conchshell, His navel was deep, and His abdomen bore lines like those on a banyan leaf.

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.

Behold the Supreme Lord’s Peaceful Beauty

  1. 1

    Akrūra saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead lying peacefully on the lap of Lord Ananta Śeṣa.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s complexion was like a dark-blue cloud. He wore yellow garments and had four arms and reddish lotus-petal eyes.

  3. 3

    His face was cheerful, with a smiling, endearing glance. His broad shoulders, expansive chest, long arms and conchshell-like neck were beautiful.

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. tasyaof Him (Ananta Śeṣa)
  2. utsaṅgeon the lap
  3. ghanalike a rain cloud
  4. śyāmamdark blue
  5. pītayellow
  6. kauśeyasilk
  7. vāsasamwhose garment
  8. puruṣamthe Supreme Lord
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.39

    In this verse: “lovely”

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

Which detail of the Lord’s peaceful, beautiful form draws your attention most?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering the Lord’s smiling glance as described here.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBehold the Supreme Lord’s Peaceful BeautyThis 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 10.39.46-48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.