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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 · Texts 10.53.47-48

Who is speaking and story frame

अद्भ‍िर्गन्धाक्षतैर्धूपैर्वास:स्रङ्‍माल्यभूषणै: ।

नानोपहारबलिभि: प्रदीपावलिभि: पृथक् ॥ ४७ ॥

विप्रस्‍त्रिय: पतिमतीस्तथा तै: समपूजयत् ।

लवणापूपताम्बूलकण्ठसूत्रफलेक्षुभि: ॥ ४८ ॥

adbhir gandhākṣatair dhūpair

vāsaḥ-sraṅ-mālya bhūṣaṇaiḥ

nānopahāra-balibhiḥ

pradīpāvalibhiḥ pṛthak

vipra-striyaḥ patimatīs

tathā taiḥ samapūjayat

lavaṇāpūpa-tāmbūla-

kaṇṭha-sūtra-phalekṣubhiḥ

Translation

Rukmiṇī worshiped the goddess with water, scents, whole grains, incense, clothing, garlands, necklaces, jewelry and other prescribed offerings and gifts, and also with arrays of lamps. The married brāhmaṇa women each performed worship simultaneously with the same items, also offering savories and cakes, prepared betel nut, sacred threads, fruit and sugarcane juice.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Worship With Care and Offerings

  1. 1

    Rukmiṇī worships the goddess with prescribed offerings, including water, scents, whole grains, incense and clothing.

  2. 2

    Her offerings also include garlands, necklaces, jewelry, gifts and arrays of lamps.

  3. 3

    The married brāhmaṇa women worship simultaneously with the same items. They also offer savories, cakes, prepared betel nut, sacred threads, fruit and sugarcane juice.

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 53: Kṛṣṇa Kidnaps Rukmiṇī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He worshiped the Lords with various gifts and then designated residences for Them. Thus the King showed due respect to the Lords, as he did to each of his numerous royal guests.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.53
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. adbhiḥwith water
  2. gandhafragrant substances
  3. akṣataiḥand whole grains
  4. dhūpaiḥwith incense
  5. vāsaḥwith clothing
  6. srakflower garlands
  7. mālyajeweled necklaces
  8. bhūṣaṇaiḥand ornaments
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.53

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worships”

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

What can you learn from the care given to these offerings?

Practice

Take a moment today to arrange the items used in your worship with care.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship With Care and OfferingsThis 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 10.53.47-48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.