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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.40.710.40.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.40.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Akrūrasince 10.40.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वामेवान्ये शिवोक्तेन मार्गेण शिवरूपिणम् ।

बह्वाचार्यविभेदेन भगवन्तम् उपासते ॥ ८ ॥

tvām evānye śivoktena

mārgeṇa śiva-rūpiṇam

bahv-ācārya-vibhedena

bhagavantam upāsate

Translation

There are still others, who worship You, the Supreme Lord, in the form of Lord Śiva. They follow the path described by him and interpreted in various ways by many teachers.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Akrūra Shows the Direct Path

  1. 1

    Some worship the Supreme Lord in the form of Lord Śiva. They follow the path taught by Śiva and interpreted in various ways by many teachers.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that this worship is indirect and therefore inferior to direct worship of the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    Akrūra follows the superior method by offering his prayers directly to Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu.

Key points from the purport
  • The words tvām eva, “You also,” indicate that the path of worshiping Lord Śiva is indirect and therefore inferior.
  • Akrūra himself is following the superior method by directly worshiping Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu, with his prayers.

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

Further reading

Chapter 40: The Prayers of Akrūra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Fruitive workers worship Him by performing Vedic sacrifices, philosophers by renouncing material work and pursuing spiritual knowledge, yogīs by meditating, Śaivites by worshiping Lord Śiva, Vaiṣṇavas by following the injunctions of such scriptures as the Pañcarātra, and other saintly persons by worshiping Him as the original form of the self, of the material substance and of the controlling demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.40
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvāmYou
  2. evaalso
  3. anyeothers
  4. śivaby Lord Śiva
  5. uktenaspoken
  6. mārgeṇaby the path
  7. śiva-rūpiṇamin the form of Lord Śiva
  8. bahu-ācāryaof many teachers
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

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 Akrūra’s example guide the way you offer prayers?

Practice

Follow Akrūra’s example by offering one simple prayer directly to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAkrūra Shows the Direct PathThis 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 10.40.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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