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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 41: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Enter Mathurā
10.41.1310.41.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.41.14

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Akrūrasince 10.41.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अवनिज्याङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रियुगलमासीत्श्लोक्यो बलिर्महान् ।

ऐश्वर्यमतुलं लेभे गतिं चैकान्तिनां तु या ॥ १४ ॥

avanijyāṅghri-yugalam

āsīt ślokyo balir mahān

aiśvaryam atulaṁ lebhe

gatiṁ caikāntināṁ tu yā

Translation

By bathing Your feet, the exalted Bali Mahārāja attained not only glorious fame and unequaled power but also the final destination of 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.

Service Leads to the Pure Devotees’ Destination

  1. 1

    The exalted Bali Mahārāja bathed the Lord’s feet.

  2. 2

    Through this service, he attained glorious fame and unequaled power.

  3. 3

    He also attained the final destination of pure devotees. The verse places this devotional attainment beyond fame and power.

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 41: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Enter Mathurā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After meeting up with Nanda Mahārāja and the other cowherds, who had gone on ahead, Kṛṣṇa asked Akrūra to return home, promising to visit him there after He had killed Kaṁsa. Akrūra unhappily bid the Lord goodbye, went to King Kaṁsa to inform him that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had come, and went home.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.41
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avanijyabathing
  2. aṅghri-yugalamthe two feet
  3. āsītbecame
  4. ślokyaḥglorious
  5. baliḥKing Bali
  6. mahānthe great
  7. aiśvaryampower
  8. atulamunequaled
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 10.41

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional”

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

Am I seeking worldly rewards, or the destination of pure devotees?

Practice

In one prayer today, ask for pure devotional service rather than fame or power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.41's connections

Live this todayService Leads to the Pure Devotees’ DestinationThis 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 10.41.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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