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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda

10.51.52 10.51.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.51.53

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śrī Mucukundasince 10.51.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भवापवर्गो भ्रमतो यदा भवे-

ज्जनस्य तर्ह्यच्युत सत्समागम: ।

सत्सङ्गमो यर्हि तदैव सद्गतौ

परावरेशे त्वयि जायते मति: ॥ ५३ ॥

bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej

janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ

sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau

parāvareśe tvayi jāyate matiḥ

Translation

When the material life of a wandering soul has ceased, O Acyuta, he may attain the association of Your devotees. And when he associates with them, there awakens in him devotion unto You, who are the goal of the devotees and the Lord of all causes and their effects.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotee Association Awakens Devotion

1
Association with the Lord’s devotees enables a wandering soul to transcend material existence. It awakens devotion to the Lord, who is the devotees’ goal.
2
The verse places the result before the cause to emphasize how swiftly devotee association acts. The purport calls this emphasis atiśayokti.
3
The merciful association of devotees makes possible our determination to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. The Lord is supreme over all causes and their effects.

Key points from the purport

Ācāryas Jīva Gosvāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī agree on the following point: Although it is stated here that when material life ceases one attains the association of devotees, in fact it is the association of the Lord’s devotees that enables one to transcend material existence.
In this connection Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the merciful association of the Lord’s devotees makes possible our determination to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.
And the ācārya agrees with Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī that this verse is an instance of atiśayokti.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.46

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.84

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).

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

Chapter 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Pleased at this request, the Lord said to Mucukunda, “My devotees are never enticed by material benedictions offered to them; only nondevotees, namely yogīs and speculative philosophers, are interested in material benedictions, having mundane desires in their hearts. My dear Mucukunda, you will have perpetual devotion for Me.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.51

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bhavaof material existence
apavargaḥthe cessation
bhramataḥwho has been wandering
yadāwhen
bhavetoccurs
janasyafor a person
tarhiat that time
acyutaO infallible Lord

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.51
In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.51
In this verse: “material”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.51
In this verse: “merciful”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make more room for association that strengthens devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Speak with a devotee today about strengthening your determination to serve Kṛṣṇa.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotee Association Awakens DevotionThis 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 10.51.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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