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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka
10.59.4010.59.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.59.41

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.59.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ययाच आनम्य किरीटकोटिभि:

पादौ स्पृशन्नच्युतमर्थसाधनम् ।

सिद्धार्थ एतेन विगृह्यते महा-

नहो सुराणां च तमो धिगाढ्यताम् ॥ ४१ ॥

yayāca ānamya kirīṭa-koṭibhiḥ

pādau spṛśann acyutam artha-sādhanam

siddhārtha etena vigṛhyate mahān

aho surāṇāṁ ca tamo dhig āḍhyatām

Translation

Even after Indra had bowed down to Lord Acyuta, touched His feet with the tips of his crown and begged the Lord to fulfill his desire, that exalted demigod, having achieved his purpose, chose to fight with the Supreme Lord. What ignorance there is among the gods! To hell with their opulence!

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.

Wealth and Power Can Foster Arrogance

  1. 1

    Indra bowed before Lord Acyuta, touched His feet with the tips of his crown and begged Him to fulfill his desire.

  2. 2

    After achieving his purpose, Indra chose to fight with the Supreme Lord. The translation strongly condemns this ignorance and opulence.

  3. 3

    Material wealth and power tend to produce arrogance. The purport warns that an opulent life can often be the royal road to hell.

Key points from the purport
  • It is well known that material wealth and power tend to produce arrogance, and thus an opulent life can often be the royal road to hell.

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 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The infallible Supreme Lord manifested Himself in sixteen thousand one hundred separate forms and married each of the sixteen thousand one hundred brides in a different temple. He took up the required activities of household life just like an ordinary person, accepting various kinds of service from each of His many wives.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.59
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yayācahe (Lord Indra) begged
  2. ānamyabowing down
  3. kirīṭaof his crown
  4. koṭibhiḥwith the tips
  5. pādauHis feet
  6. spṛśantouching
  7. acyutamto Lord Kṛṣṇa
  8. arthahis (Indra’s) purpose
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.59

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

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

Do you remain humble toward the Lord after receiving what you wanted?

Practice

Identify one advantage you possess and consider whether it is making you arrogant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWealth and Power Can Foster ArroganceThis 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 10.59.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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