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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 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā
10.50.25-2810.50.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.50.29

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.50.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्थित्युद्भ‍वान्तं भुवनत्रयस्य य:

समीहितेऽनन्तगुण: स्वलीलया ।

न तस्य चित्रं परपक्षनिग्रह-

स्तथापि मर्त्यानुविधस्य वर्ण्यते ॥ २९ ॥

sthity-udbhavāntaṁ bhuvana-trayasya yaḥ

samīhite ’nanta-guṇaḥ sva-līlayā

na tasya citraṁ para-pakṣa-nigrahas

tathāpi martyānuvidhasya varṇyate

Translation

For Him who orchestrates the creation, maintenance and destruction of the three worlds and who possesses unlimited spiritual qualities, it is hardly amazing that He subdues an opposing party. Still, when the Lord does so, imitating human behavior, sages glorify His acts.

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.

Kṛṣṇa’s Humanlike Pastimes Express His Love

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa creates, maintains and annihilates the universe and possesses unlimited spiritual qualities. Subduing an opposing army is therefore hardly amazing for Him.

  2. 2

    Through His Yogamāyā potency, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears like a human being and creates thrilling transcendental pastimes.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa performs these pastimes not for mundane self-importance but for our spiritual happiness. We love Him for His own sake and appreciate His pastimes as acts of love.

Key points from the purport
  • The philosopher Aristotle once argued that the Supreme God would hardly take part in human activities, since all ordinary activities are unworthy of such a divine being.
  • The answer is as follows: The Lord plays the part of a human being and, expanding His pleasure potency, creates thrilling transcendental pastimes full of suspense and dynamic action.
  • By the Lord’s Yogamāyā potency, He appears exactly like a human being, and thus we may enjoy the spectacle of the Supreme Person acting on the earthly stage.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.50.29 quotesSB 10.14.32

Similarly, in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.32) we find, yan-mitraṁ paramānandaṁ pūrṇaṁ brahma sanātanam: “The source of transcendental bliss, the eternal Supreme Brahman, has become their friend.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Yearning and danger → Marriage and reciprocity. A wider range of divine relationships appears.

Chapters 50–59 of Canto 10: Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī and royal rescues. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 50: Kṛṣṇa Establishes the City of Dvārakā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Kṛṣṇa reasoned that Jarāsandha would assemble another army and return again to fight; this would facilitate Kṛṣṇa’s goal of removing the earth’s burden. Released, Jarāsandha returned to Magadha and vowed to perform austerities with the aim of avenging his defeat.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.50
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sthitithe maintenance
  2. udbhavacreation
  3. antamand annihilation
  4. bhuvana-trayasyaof the three worlds
  5. yaḥwho
  6. samīhiteeffects
  7. anantaunlimited
  8. guṇaḥwhose transcendental qualities
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “glorify”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.50

    In this verse: “love”

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 might seeing Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes as acts of love deepen your desire to serve Him?

Practice

Read this verse once as an act of devotional service, pausing to appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s loving purpose.

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.

The purport quotesSB 10.14.32

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.50's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Humanlike Pastimes Express His LoveThis 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 10.50.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.