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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.41.16

Who is speaking and story frame

देवदेव जगन्नाथ पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन ।

यदूत्तमोत्तम:श्लोक नारायण नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १६ ॥

deva-deva jagan-nātha

puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtana

yadūttamottamaḥ-śloka

nārāyaṇa namo ’stu te

Translation

O Lord of lords, master of the universe, O You whose glories it is most pious to hear and chant! O best of the Yadus, O You whose fame is recounted in excellent poetry! O Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, I offer You my obeisances.

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.

Hear, Chant and Offer Obeisances

  1. 1

    Akrūra addresses Kṛṣṇa as the Lord of lords and master of the universe. He honors Him as the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    Hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories are most pious, and His fame is recounted in excellent poetry.

  3. 3

    Akrūra praises Him as the best of the Yadus and offers his obeisances. His prayer recognizes Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Akrūra unhappily bid the Lord goodbye, went to King Kaṁsa to inform him that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had come, and went home. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma took the cowherd boys with Them to see the splendorous city.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.41
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. deva-devaO Lord of lords
  2. jagat-nāthaO master of the universe
  3. puṇyapious
  4. śravaṇahearing
  5. kīrtanaand chanting (about whom)
  6. yadu-uttamaO best of the Yadus
  7. uttamaḥ-ślokaO You who are glorified in excellent verses
  8. nārāyaṇaO Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.41

    In this verse: “chant”, “chanting”, “hearing”

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 my hearing and chanting become a sincere offering of respect?

Practice

Read this prayer aloud and offer your obeisances to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear, Chant and Offer ObeisancesThis 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 10.41.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.