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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 5: The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva
10.5.2910.5.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.5.30

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nanda Mahārājasince 10.5.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नूनं ह्यद‍ृष्टनिष्ठोऽयमद‍ृष्टपरमो जन: ।

अद‍ृष्टमात्मनस्तत्त्वं यो वेद न स मुह्यति ॥ ३० ॥

nūnaṁ hy adṛṣṭa-niṣṭho ’yam

adṛṣṭa-paramo janaḥ

adṛṣṭam ātmanas tattvaṁ

yo veda na sa muhyati

Translation

Every man is certainly controlled by destiny, which determines the results of one’s fruitive activities. In other words, one has a son or daughter because of unseen destiny, and when the son or daughter is no longer present, this also is due to unseen destiny. Destiny is the ultimate controller of everyone. One who knows this is never bewildered.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understanding Destiny Lessens Bewilderment

  1. 1

    Unseen destiny determines the results of one’s fruitive activities. Both having a child and losing that child are described here in relation to destiny.

  2. 2

    Nanda Mahārāja consoled Vasudeva by explaining that destiny was ultimately responsible for what had happened to his children.

  3. 3

    One who understands this control of destiny is not bewildered. Nanda Mahārāja offered this understanding to ease Vasudeva’s unhappiness.

Key points from the purport
  • Nanda Mahārāja consoled his younger brother Vasudeva by saying that destiny is ultimately responsible for everything.
  • Vasudeva should not be unhappy that his many children had been killed by Kaṁsa or that the last child, the daughter, had gone to the heavenly planets.

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 consoled Vasudeva by saying that everything happens according to destiny and that one who knows this is not aggrieved. Expecting many disturbances in Gokula, Vasudeva then advised Nanda Mahārāja not to wait in Mathurā, but to return to Vṛndāvana as soon as possible.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nūnamcertainly
  2. hiindeed
  3. adṛṣṭaunseen
  4. niṣṭhaḥ ayamsomething ends there
  5. adṛṣṭathe unseen destiny
  6. paramaḥultimate
  7. janaḥevery living entity within this material world
  8. adṛṣṭamthat destiny
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”, “child”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.5

    In this verse: “understands”

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

Could remembering that outcomes are not fully under my control help me face an unexpected change?

Practice

When one disappointment arises today, pause and remember that you do not control every outcome.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstanding Destiny Lessens BewildermentThis 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 10.5.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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