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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 57: Satrājit Murdered, the Jewel Returned
10.57.3310.57.35-36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.57.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The elderssince 10.57.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इति वृद्धवच: श्रुत्वा नैतावदिह कारणम् ।

इति मत्वा समानाय्य प्राहाक्रूरं जनार्दन: ॥ ३४ ॥

iti vṛddha-vacaḥ śrutvā

naitāvad iha kāraṇam

iti matvā samānāyya

prāhākrūraṁ janārdanaḥ

Translation

Hearing these words from the elders, Lord Janārdana, though aware that the absence of Akrūra was not the only cause of the evil omens, had him summoned back to Dvārakā and spoke to 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.

Kṛṣṇa Remains the Supreme Controller

  1. 1

    Lord Janārdana heard the elders and summoned Akrūra back to Dvārakā. He knew that Akrūra’s absence was not the only cause of the evil omens.

  2. 2

    Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller, the troubles appeared by His will. Superficially, they could be connected with the absence of Akrūra and the auspicious Syamantaka jewel.

  3. 3

    Dvārakā is Kṛṣṇa’s eternal abode, a city of divine bliss because He resides there. In His pastimes as a prince of this world, He nevertheless did the needful and summoned Akrūra.

Key points from the purport
  • Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller, it was obviously by His will that certain troubles appeared in the city of Dvārakā.
  • But we should recall that Dvārakā is the eternal abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa; it is a city of divine bliss because the Lord resides there.
  • Still, to execute His pastimes as a prince of this world, Lord Kṛṣṇa did the needful and summoned Akrūra.

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:

Still, He had Akrūra brought back to Dvārakā, and after properly honoring him with worship and greeting him with sweet words, Kṛṣṇa told him, “I know Śatadhanvā left the jewel in your care. Since Satrājit had no sons, his daughter’s offspring are the just claimants to whatever property he has left behind.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.57
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. vṛddhaof the elders
  3. vacaḥthe words
  4. śrutvāhaving heard
  5. nanot
  6. etāvatonly this
  7. ihaof the matter at hand
  8. kāraṇamthe cause
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.57

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 10.57

    In this verse: “absence”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s position as supreme controller deepen my understanding of His actions here?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering that Dvārakā is a place of divine bliss because Kṛṣṇa resides there.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.57's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Remains the Supreme ControllerThis 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 10.57.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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