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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 55: The History of Pradyumna
10.55.610.55.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.55.7-8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.55.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सा च कामस्य वै पत्नी रतिर्नाम यशस्विनी ।

पत्युर्निर्दग्धदेहस्य देहोत्पत्तिं प्रतीक्षती ॥ ७ ॥

निरूपिता शम्बरेण सा सूदौदनसाधने ।

कामदेवं शिशुं बुद्ध्वा चक्रे स्‍नेहं तदार्भके ॥ ८ ॥

sā ca kāmasya vai patnī

ratir nāma yaśasvinī

patyur nirdagdha-dehasya

dehotpattim pratīkṣatī

nirūpitā śambareṇa

sā sūdaudana-sādhane

kāmadevaṁ śiśuṁ buddhvā

cakre snehaṁ tadārbhake

Translation

Māyāvatī was in fact Cupid’s renowned wife, Rati. While waiting for her husband to obtain a new body — his previous one having been burnt up — she had been assigned by Śambara to prepare vegetables and rice. Māyāvatī understood that this infant was actually Kāmadeva, and thus she began to feel love for Him.

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.

Māyāvatī Recognizes Her Husband

  1. 1

    Māyāvatī was actually Rati, Cupid’s renowned wife. She had worshiped Lord Śiva so that her husband could obtain another body.

  2. 2

    Śambara asked Śiva for Rati as his benediction, and Śiva complied. Śiva consoled her by saying that she would attain her desire in Śambara’s home.

  3. 3

    Taking the name Māyāvatī, Rati bewildered Śambara with her deluding power and remained untouched in his house, preparing vegetables and rice. Recognizing the infant as Kāmadeva, she began to feel love for Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains this story as follows: When Cupid’s body was burned to ashes, Rati worshiped Lord Śiva to obtain another body for Cupid.
  • Śambara, struck with lust at seeing Rati, replied that he wanted her as his benediction, and Śiva complied.
  • Thereupon, Rati bewildered Śambara with her deluding power and, taking the name Māyāvatī, remained in his house untouched.

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 55: The History of Pradyumna

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

While waiting for her husband to be reborn in a new body, she had taken employment as a cook in the household of Śambara. Now that she understood who the infant was, she began to feel intense affection for Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.55
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāshe
  2. caand
  3. kāmasyaof Cupid
  4. vaiin fact
  5. patnīthe wife
  6. ratiḥ namanamed Rati
  7. yaśasvinīfamous
  8. patyuḥof her husband
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.55

    In this verse: “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.55

    In this verse: “māyāvatī”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.55

    In this verse: “infant”

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

How does knowing Māyāvatī’s identity help me understand her love for the child?

Practice

Write a short identity note: “Māyāvatī is Rati, the wife of Cupid.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMāyāvatī Recognizes Her HusbandThis 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 10.55.7-8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.