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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 39: Akrūra’s Vision

10.39.53-55 10.40.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.39.56-57

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.39.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विलोक्य सुभृशं प्रीतो भक्त्या परमया युत: ।

हृष्यत्तनूरुहो भावपरिक्लिन्नात्मलोचन: ॥ ५६ ॥

गिरा गद्गदयास्तौषीत् सत्त्वमालम्ब्य सात्वत: ।

प्रणम्य मूर्ध्नावहित: कृताञ्जलिपुट: शनै: ॥ ५७ ॥

vilokya su-bhṛśaṁ prīto

bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ

hṛṣyat-tanūruho bhāva-

pariklinnātma-locanaḥ

girā gadgadayāstauṣīt

sattvam ālambya sātvataḥ

praṇamya mūrdhnāvahitaḥ

kṛtāñjali-puṭaḥ śanaiḥ

Translation

As the great devotee Akrūra beheld all this, he became extremely pleased and felt enthused with transcendental devotion. His intense ecstasy caused His bodily hairs to stand on end and tears to flow from his eyes, drenching his entire body. Somehow managing to steady himself, Akrūra bowed his head to the ground. Then he joined his palms in supplication and, in a voice choked with emotion, very slowly and attentively began to pray.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Finds Expression in Attentive Prayer

1
Seeing all this, Akrūra became extremely pleased and enthused with transcendental devotion.
2
His intense ecstasy made his bodily hairs stand on end. Tears flowed from his eyes and drenched his entire body.
3
Steadying himself, Akrūra bowed his head to the ground and joined his palms in supplication. With a voice choked with emotion, he began to pray very slowly and attentively.

Key points from the purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Thirty-ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Akrūra’s Vision.”

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

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

Chapter 39: Akrūra’s Vision

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Serving Him were His many potencies, such as Śrī, Puṣṭi and Ilā, while Brahmā and other demigods sang His praises. Akrūra rejoiced at this vision and, joining his palms in supplication, began to pray to the Supreme Lord in a voice choked with emotion.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.39

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

vilokya(Akrūra) seeing
su-bhṛśamgreatly
prītaḥpleased
bhaktyāwith devotion
paramayāsupreme
yutaḥenthused
hṛṣyatstanding on end
tanū-ruhaḥthe hairs of his body

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.39
In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.39
In this verse: “ecstasy”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can you learn from Akrūra’s care to pray slowly and attentively?

Practice

Join your palms and offer a brief prayer to the Lord, speaking slowly and attending to each word.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Finds Expression in Attentive PrayerThis 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.

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