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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 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son
10.45.3410.45.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.45.35-36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Balarāmasince 10.45.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ ।

सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥

अहोरात्रैश्चतु:षष्‍ट्या संयत्तौ तावती: कला: ।

गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप ॥ ३६ ॥

sarvaṁ nara-vara-śreṣṭhau

sarva-vidyā-pravartakau

sakṛn nigada-mātreṇa

tau sañjagṛhatur nṛpa

aho-rātraiś catuḥ-ṣaṣṭyā

saṁyattau tāvatīḥ kalāḥ

guru-dakṣiṇayācāryaṁ

chandayām āsatur nṛpa

Translation

O King, those best of persons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, being Themselves the original promulgators of all varieties of knowledge, could immediately assimilate each and every subject after hearing it explained just once. Thus with fixed concentration They learned the sixty-four arts and skills in as many days and nights. Thereafter, O King, They satisfied Their spiritual master by offering him guru-dakṣiṇā.

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.

The Sources of Knowledge Honor Their Teacher

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are the original promulgators of all varieties of knowledge. They could fully understand each subject after hearing it explained just once.

  2. 2

    With fixed concentration, They mastered sixty-four arts and skills in sixty-four days and nights. These included singing, painting, carpentry, medicine, conversation, and composing verses.

  3. 3

    After completing Their studies, They satisfied Their spiritual master by offering guru-dakṣiṇā. Their mastery of knowledge was accompanied by honoring Their teacher.

Key points from the purport
  • The following list comprises the sixty-four subjects mastered by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma in sixty-four days.
  • Additional information may be found in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 45: Kṛṣṇa Rescues His Teacher’s Son

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma needed to hear each subject explained only once to assimilate it completely, and thus in sixty-four days They learned the sixty-four traditional arts. Before taking leave of Their guru, the two Lords offered Sāndīpani Muni any gift he desired.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.45
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarvameverything
  2. nara-varaof first-class men
  3. śreṣṭhauthe best
  4. sarvaof all
  5. vidyābranches of knowledge
  6. pravartakauthe initiators
  7. sakṛtonce
  8. nigadabeing related
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.45

    In this verse: “king”

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 combine attentive learning with gratitude toward my teacher?

Practice

Study without distractions for five minutes, then thank someone who has helped you learn.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Sources of Knowledge Honor Their TeacherThis 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 10.45.35-36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.