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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
10.52.3210.52.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.52.33

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

विप्रान् स्वलाभसन्तुष्टान् साधून् भूतसुहृत्तमान् ।

निरहङ्कारिण: शान्तान् नमस्ये शिरसासकृत् ॥ ३३ ॥

viprān sva-lābha-santuṣṭān

sādhūn bhūta-suhṛttamān

nirahaṅkāriṇaḥ śāntān

namasye śirasāsakṛt

Translation

I repeatedly bow My head in respect to those brāhmaṇas who are satisfied with their lot. Saintly, prideless and peaceful, they are the best well-wishers of all living beings.

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.

Spiritual Understanding Nourishes Contentment

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa repeatedly bows His head to brāhmaṇas who are satisfied, saintly, prideless and peaceful.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that satisfaction with one's own gain can also mean self-realization.

  3. 3

    An advanced brāhmaṇa is satisfied with spiritual understanding, not dependent on material formalities or facilities. Such brāhmaṇas are the best well-wishers of all living beings.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that sva-lābha also means “achieving one’s self,” or, in other words, self-realization.
  • Thus an advanced brāhmaṇa is always satisfied with his spiritual understanding, never depending on material formalities or facilities.

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:

That would be the best opportunity for You to appear and easily kidnap me. If You do not show me this favor, I will give up my life by fasting and observing severe vows.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.52
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viprānto the learned brāhmaṇas
  2. svatheir own
  3. lābhaby the gain
  4. santuṣṭānsatisfied
  5. sādhūnsaintly
  6. bhūtaof all living beings
  7. suhṛt-tamānthe best well-wishing friends
  8. nirahaṅkāriṇaḥdevoid of false ego
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “prideless”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

Does my satisfaction depend more on spiritual understanding or on material facilities?

Practice

Show quiet respect today to someone whose humility and goodwill you appreciate.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Understanding Nourishes ContentmentThis 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 10.52.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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