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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.51.50

Who is speaking and story frame

पुरा रथैर्हेमपरिष्कृतैश्चरन्

मतंगजैर्वा नरदेवसंज्ञित: ।

स एव कालेन दुरत्ययेन ते

कलेवरो विट्कृमिभस्मसंज्ञित: ॥ ५० ॥

purā rathair hema-pariṣkṛtaiś caran

mataṁ-gajair vā nara-deva-saṁjñitaḥ

sa eva kālena duratyayena te

kalevaro viṭ-kṛmi-bhasma-saṁjñitaḥ

Translation

The body that at first rides high on fierce elephants or chariots adorned with gold and is known by the name “king” is later, by Your invincible power of time, called “feces,” “worms,” or “ashes.”

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.

Use Human Life for Worship

  1. 1

    Even a body honored as a king comes under the Lord’s invincible power of time. Its final condition is feces, worms, or ashes.

  2. 2

    Death is certain, and the body’s ultimate fate is never sublime. High position and impressive titles cannot change this.

  3. 3

    Human life is obtained after great struggle through many species. Those who neglect worship of Lord Viṣṇu, who brings real happiness, become enemies of themselves and humanity.

Key points from the purport
  • Also, many earthly cadavers are burned and thus transformed into ashes.
  • That is the real purport of Mucukunda’s statement here — that the body, though now called “king,” “prince,” “beauty queen,” “upper-middle class” and so on, will eventually be called “stool,” “worms” and “ashes.”
  • Thus those human beings who still do not worship Lord Viṣṇu, who can bring them real happiness, have certainly become enemies of both themselves and humanity.”

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

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 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Mucukunda said, “After growing weary from remaining awake for a long time, I was enjoying my sleep here in this cave when some stranger disturbed me and, suffering the reaction of his sins, was burnt to ashes. O Lord, O vanquisher of all enemies, it is my great fortune that I now have the vision of Your beautiful form.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.51
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. purāpreviously
  2. rathaiḥin chariots
  3. hemawith gold
  4. pariṣkṛtaiḥfurnished
  5. caranriding
  6. matamfierce
  7. gajaiḥon elephants
  8. vāor
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.51

    In this verse: “death”

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

Am I giving more attention to bodily status than to worship of the Lord?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to worship Lord Viṣṇu rather than attend to your appearance or status.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Human Life for WorshipThis 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 10.51.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.