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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 49: Akrūra’s Mission in Hastināpura
10.48.3610.49.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.49.1-2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.49.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं पौरवेन्द्रयशोऽङ्कितम् ।

ददर्श तत्राम्बिकेयं सभीष्मं विदुरं पृथाम् ॥ १ ॥

सहपुत्रं च बाह्लीकं भारद्वाजं सगौतमम् ।

कर्णं सुयोधनं द्रौणिं पाण्डवान् सुहृदोऽपरान् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

sa gatvā hāstinapuraṁ

pauravendra-yaśo-’ṅkitam

dadarśa tatrāmbikeyaṁ

sa-bhīṣmaṁ viduraṁ pṛthām

saha-putraṁ ca bāhlīkaṁ

bhāradvājaṁ sa-gautamam

karnaṁ suyodhanaṁ drauṇiṁ

pāṇḍavān suhṛdo ’parān

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Akrūra went to Hastināpura, the city distinguished by the glory of the Paurava rulers. There he saw Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bhīṣma, Vidura and Kuntī, along with Bāhlika and his son Somadatta. He also saw Droṇācārya, Kṛpācārya, Karṇa, Duryodhana, Aśvatthāmā, the Pāṇḍavas and other close friends.

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.

Akrūra Arrives in Hastināpura

  1. 1

    Akrūra went to Hastināpura, a city distinguished by the glory of the Paurava rulers.

  2. 2

    There he saw Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bhīṣma, Vidura and Kuntī, along with other prominent figures.

  3. 3

    He also saw the Pāṇḍavas and other close friends. His visit brought him among both rulers and people personally dear to him.

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 49: Akrūra’s Mission in Hastināpura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This chapter describes how Akrūra went to Hastināpura, saw Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s unfair behavior toward his nephews, the Pāṇḍavas, and then returned to Mathurā. On the order of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Akrūra went to Hastināpura, where he met the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas and then set about to find out how Dhṛtarāṣṭra was treating the latter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.49
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. saḥhe (Akrūra)
  3. gatvāgoing
  4. hāstina-puramto Hastināpura
  5. paurava-indraof the rulers of the dynasty of Pūru
  6. yaśaḥby the glory
  7. aṅkitamdecorated
  8. dadarśahe saw
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.49

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.49

    In this verse: “rulers”

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

Which relationships stand out to you in this account of Akrūra’s arrival?

Practice

Read the account slowly and notice the people Akrūra met.

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 10.49's connections

Live this todayAkrūra Arrives in HastināpuraThis 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 10.49.1-2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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