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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 · Text 10.40.2

Who is speaking and story frame

भूस्तोयमग्नि: पवनं खमादि-

र्महानजादिर्मन इन्द्रियाणि ।

सर्वेन्द्रियार्था विबुधाश्च सर्वे

ये हेतवस्ते जगतोऽङ्गभूता: ॥ २ ॥

bhūs toyam agniḥ pavanaṁ kham ādir

mahān ajādir mana indriyāṇi

sarvendriyārthā vibudhāś ca sarve

ye hetavas te jagato ’ṅga-bhūtāḥ

Translation

Earth; water; fire; air; ether and its source, false ego; the mahat-tattva; the total material nature and her source, the Supreme Lord’s puruṣa expansion; the mind; the senses; the sense objects; and the senses’ presiding deities — all these causes of the cosmic manifestation are born from Your transcendental body.

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.

Creation Comes From the Lord

  1. 1

    Earth, water, fire, air and ether are born from the Lord’s transcendental body.

  2. 2

    False ego, the mahat-tattva, total material nature and her source, the Lord’s puruṣa expansion, also come from Him.

  3. 3

    The mind, senses, sense objects and the senses’ presiding deities all come from Him. Every listed cause of the cosmic manifestation depends on the Lord.

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 40: The Prayers of Akrūra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The five elements of physical nature, the five corresponding objects of perception, the ten senses, the ego, the total nature, the primeval creator and the demigods all originate from His bodily limbs. He cannot be known by sensory knowledge, and thus even Brahmā and the other demigods are ignorant of His real identity.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.40
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhūḥearth
  2. toyamwater
  3. agniḥfire
  4. pavanamair
  5. khamether
  6. ādiḥand its source, false ego
  7. mahānthe mahat-tattva
  8. ajāthe total material nature
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.40

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.40

    In this verse: “false ego”

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 changes when you view your mind and senses as coming from the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Notice water or earth today and pause to remember its source in the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCreation Comes From the LordThis 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 10.40.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.