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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 46: Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana
10.46.3910.46.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.46.40

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 10.46.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति भजते निर्गुणो गुणान् ।

क्रीडन्नतीतोऽपि गुणै: सृजत्यवति हन्त्यज: ॥ ४० ॥

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti

bhajate nirguṇo guṇān

krīḍann atīto ’pi guṇaiḥ

sṛjaty avan hanty ajaḥ

Translation

Although beyond the three modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — the transcendental Lord accepts association with them as His play. Thus the unborn Supreme Lord utilizes the material modes to create, maintain and destroy.

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 Lord Is Beyond Material Nature

  1. 1

    The unborn Supreme Lord is beyond goodness, passion and ignorance. As His play, He uses these modes to create, maintain and destroy.

  2. 2

    The Lord provides the field of material nature in which we exercise our free will. Our desire to associate with its various qualities brings consequences.

  3. 3

    The Lord neither favors nor abuses anyone. Trying to exploit His nature and then blaming Him for the resulting suffering expresses envy of God.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated in the Brahma-sūtra (2.1.33), loka-vat līlā-kaivalyam: “The Lord performs His spiritual pastimes as if He were a resident of this world.”
  • The Gītā (13.22) states, kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya: We desire to associate with various qualities of material nature, and thus we must accept the consequences.
  • The Lord provides the field of material nature, in which we exercise our free will.

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

Heartache → Unbroken remembrance. Love endures and deepens despite visible absence.

Chapters 46–49 of Canto 10: Uddhava, the gopīs and the Song of the Bee. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 46: Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Free from egoism and possessiveness, They have no father, mother, wife or children, are never subject to birth, and have no material body. Only to enjoy spiritual happiness and deliver Their saintly devotees do They appear by Their own sweet will among various species of life, both high and low.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.46
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sattvamgoodness
  2. rajaḥpassion
  3. tamaḥand ignorance
  4. itithus called
  5. bhajateHe accepts
  6. nirguṇaḥbeyond the material modes
  7. guṇānthe modes
  8. krīḍanplaying
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “suffering”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.46

    In this verse: “favors”

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

Where might you take responsibility for your choices rather than blame the Lord?

Practice

Review one choice today and acknowledge its consequences without blaming God.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Beyond Material NatureThis 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 10.46.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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