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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 5: The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva
10.5.1710.5.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.5.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.5.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत आरभ्य नन्दस्य व्रज: सर्वसमृद्धिमान् ।

हरेर्निवासात्मगुणै रमाक्रीडमभून्नृप ॥ १८ ॥

tata ārabhya nandasya

vrajaḥ sarva-samṛddhimān

harer nivāsātma-guṇai

ramākrīḍam abhūn nṛpa

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the home of Nanda Mahārāja is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from Lord Kṛṣṇa’s appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fortune Naturally Resides with Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja’s home is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities. It is therefore naturally endowed with wealth.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s abode is always served by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. Wherever Kṛṣṇa goes, the goddess of fortune naturally resides with Him.

  3. 3

    Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the chief goddess of fortune. Kṛṣṇa’s appearance in Vraja indicated that she would also appear there very soon, and Nanda Mahārāja’s already wealthy abode would become opulent in all respects.

Key points from the purport
  • The abode of Kṛṣṇa is always served by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune.
  • Wherever Kṛṣṇa goes, the goddess of fortune naturally resides with Him.
  • Therefore, Kṛṣṇa’s appearance in the land of Vraja indicated that the chief goddess of fortune, Rādhārāṇī, would also appear there very soon.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 5: The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva were brothers, and Vasudeva praised Nanda Mahārāja’s good fortune because he knew that Kṛṣṇa had accepted Nanda Mahārāja as His father. When Vasudeva inquired from Nanda Mahārāja about the welfare of the child, Nanda Mahārāja informed him all about Vṛndāvana, and Vasudeva was very much satisfied by this, although he expressed his grief because Devakī’s many children had been killed by Kaṁsa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥ ārabhyabeginning from that time
  2. nandasyaof Mahārāja Nanda
  3. vrajaḥVrajabhūmi, the land for protecting and breeding cows
  4. sarva-samṛddhimānbecame opulent with all kinds of riches
  5. hareḥ nivāsaof the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. ātma-guṇaiḥby the transcendental qualities
  7. ramā-ākrīḍamthe place of pastimes for the goddess of fortune
  8. abhūtbecame
  9. nṛpaO King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “wealth”

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 does this passage connect fortune with Kṛṣṇa’s presence and service to Him?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s abode as a place where the goddesses of fortune serve Him.

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 10.5's connections

Live this todayFortune Naturally Resides with KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.5.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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