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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 57: Satrājit Murdered, the Jewel Returned
10.57.1410.57.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.57.15

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kṛtavarmāsince 10.57.12-13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

य इदं लीलया विश्वं सृजत्यवति हन्ति च ।

चेष्टां विश्वसृजो यस्य न विदुर्मोहिताजया ॥ १५ ॥

ya idaṁ līlayā viśvaṁ

sṛjaty avati hanti ca

ceṣṭāṁ viśva-sṛjo yasya

na vidur mohitājayā

Translation

“It is the Supreme Lord who creates, maintains and destroys this universe simply as His pastime. The cosmic creators cannot even understand His purpose, bewildered as they are by His illusory Māyā.

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.

One Supreme Lord, Innumerable Forms

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord creates, maintains and destroys the universe simply as His pastime. Even the cosmic creators cannot understand His purpose, being bewildered by His illusory Māyā.

  2. 2

    References to the two Lords do not mean there are two independent Supreme Gods. The one Supreme Lord expands into innumerable forms while remaining one and almighty.

  3. 3

    The Lord appears as His own older brother, Balarāma, in His pastimes. There is one Supreme Godhead, one Absolute Truth, whose original form is Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • The use of the singular yaḥ, “He who,” indicates that the frequent references to “the two Lords, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma,” do not compromise the firm principle of monotheism expressed in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • As explained in many Vedic literatures, the one Supreme Lord expands Himself into innumerable forms, yet He remains the one and almighty God.
  • But the “bottom line” is that there is one Supreme Godhead, one Absolute Truth, who appears in His original form as Kṛṣṇa.

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 57: Satrājit Murdered, the Jewel Returned

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Bewildered by their words, the sinful Śatadhanvā murdered King Satrājit in his sleep and stole the gem. Queen Satyabhāmā was overcome with grief at the death of her father, and she rushed to Hastināpura to report the sorrowful news to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.57
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥwho
  2. idamthis
  3. līlayāas play
  4. viśvamuniverse
  5. sṛjaticreates
  6. avatimaintains
  7. hantidestroys
  8. caand
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.57

    In this verse: “understand”, “absolute truth”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.57

    In this verse: “māyā”

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 can I approach the Lord's purposes with greater humility?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, then offer a brief prayer of respect to Kṛṣṇa as the one Supreme Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Supreme Lord, Innumerable FormsThis 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 10.57.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.