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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 52: Rukmiṇī’s Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.52.2910.52.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.52.30

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.52.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कच्चिद् द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ धर्मस्ते वृद्धसम्मत: ।

वर्तते नातिकृच्छ्रेण सन्तुष्टमनस: सदा ॥ ३० ॥

kaccid dvija-vara-śreṣṭha

dharmas te vṛddha-sammataḥ

vartate nāti-kṛcchreṇa

santuṣṭa-manasaḥ sadā

Translation

[The Supreme Lord said:] O best of exalted brāhmaṇas, are your religious practices, sanctioned by senior authorities, proceeding without great difficulty? Is your mind always fully satisfied?

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.

Dharma Guides All of Life

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord asked whether the brāhmaṇa’s religious practices, sanctioned by senior authorities, were proceeding without great difficulty. He also asked whether his mind was always fully satisfied.

  2. 2

    Dharma includes duty, higher principles and prescribed responsibilities. In Vedic society, these were understood within the need to obey God’s law.

  3. 3

    Religion was not a separate department of life but a guiding light for all activities. God’s hand was seen in everything, and irreligious life was considered demoniac.

Key points from the purport
  • Here we have translated the word dharma as “religious practice,” although this does not fully convey the Sanskrit sense of the word.
  • Thus to them the word dharma conveyed a sense of duty in general, higher principles, prescribed duty and so on.
  • Irreligious life was considered demoniac, and God’s hand was seen in everything.

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 52: Rukmiṇī’s Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Rukmiṇī, the young daughter of Bhīṣmaka, King of Vidarbha, had heard of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, strength and other fine qualities, and she therefore made up her mind that He would be the perfect husband for her. Lord Kṛṣṇa also wanted to marry her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.52
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaccitwhether
  2. dvijaof the brāhmaṇas
  3. varafirst-class
  4. śreṣṭhaO best
  5. dharmaḥreligious principles
  6. teyour
  7. vṛddhaby senior authorities
  8. sammataḥsanctioned
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “religious”, “duty”, “dharma”

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

Do you treat religious practice as one part of life or as guidance for all your activities?

Practice

Choose one ordinary duty today and consider how to carry it out in keeping with the religious guidance you have received.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDharma Guides All of LifeThis 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 10.52.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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