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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 40: The Prayers of Akrūra
10.40.2710.40.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.40.28

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Akrūrasince 10.40.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सोऽहं तवाङ्‌घ्र्युपगतोऽस्म्यसतां दुरापं

तच्चाप्यहं भवदनुग्रह ईश मन्ये ।

पुंसो भवेद् यर्हि संसरणापवर्ग-

स्त्वय्यब्जनाभ सदुपासनया मति: स्यात् ॥ २८ ॥

so ’haṁ tavāṅghry-upagato ’smy asatāṁ durāpaṁ

tac cāpy ahaṁ bhavad-anugraha īśa manye

puṁso bhaved yarhi saṁsaraṇāpavargas

tvayy abja-nābha sad-upāsanayā matiḥ syāt

Translation

Being thus fallen, I am approaching Your feet for shelter, O Lord, because although the impure can never attain Your feet, I think it is nevertheless possible by Your mercy. Only when one’s material life has ceased, O lotus-naveled Lord, can one develop consciousness of You by serving Your pure devotees.

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.

Shelter Through Mercy and Devotee Service

  1. 1

    Although fallen, the speaker approaches the Lord’s feet for shelter.

  2. 2

    The impure cannot attain the Lord’s feet by their own condition, yet His mercy makes approaching Him possible.

  3. 3

    Only when material life has ceased can consciousness of the Lord develop through serving His pure devotees. Such service is central to the prayer’s devotional hope.

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:

Only if, by His mercy, they get the association of saintly devotees will their material entanglement end. Only then can they develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness by serving the Lord’s pure devotees.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.40
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥbeing such
  2. ahamI
  3. tavaYour
  4. aṅghrifeet
  5. upagataḥ asmiam approaching
  6. asatāmfor those who are impure
  7. durāpamimpossible to attain
  8. tatthat
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.40

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.40

    In this verse: “mercy”

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 can I approach the Lord with greater dependence on His mercy?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer for shelter at the Lord’s feet and for an opportunity to serve His pure devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShelter Through Mercy and Devotee ServiceThis 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 10.40.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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