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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 60: Lord Kṛṣṇa Teases Queen Rukmiṇī.
10.60.1410.60.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.60.15

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.60.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ययोरात्मसमं वित्तं जन्मैश्वर्याकृतिर्भव: ।

तयोर्विवाहो मैत्री च नोत्तमाधमयो: क्व‍‍चित् ॥ १५ ॥

yayor ātma-samaṁ vittaṁ

janmaiśvaryākṛtir bhavaḥ

tayor vivāho maitrī ca

nottamādhamayoḥ kvacit

Translation

Marriage and friendship are proper between two people who are equal in terms of their wealth, birth, influence, physical appearance and capacity for good progeny, but never between a superior and an inferior.

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.

The Lord’s Opulences Are Eternal

  1. 1

    Marriage and friendship are described as proper between people of equal status. People of unequal qualities may relate as master and servant or teacher and student.

  2. 2

    In marriage, the couple should also have a similar capacity to produce good offspring.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa presents Himself as materially unqualified, but He lives in pure spiritual existence. His opulences are eternal, not of the flimsy mundane sort.

Key points from the purport
  • Persons of superior and inferior qualities may live together in a relationship of master and servant or teacher and student, but marriage and friendship are proper only between those of equal status.
  • The word bhava, in the context of marriage, indicates that a couple should have a similar capacity to produce good offspring.
  • Thus all the Lord’s opulences are eternal and not of the flimsy mundane sort.

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

Conflict and affection → Devotional wonder. Divine intimacy coexists with royal duties.

Chapters 60–69 of Canto 10: Palace life, family bonds and heroic protection. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 60: Lord Kṛṣṇa Teases Queen Rukmiṇī.

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

“When a man and a woman share the same social class, influence, physical beauty and so on, marriage or friendship can flourish between them. But out of shortsightedness you have accepted a husband who lacks every good quality and is glorified by beggars.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.60
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yayoḥof which two
  2. ātma-samamequal to oneself
  3. vittamproperty
  4. janmabirth
  5. aiśvaryainfluence
  6. ākṛtiḥand physical appearance
  7. bhavaḥposterity
  8. tayoḥof them
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “wealth”, “materially”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “friendship”

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

Am I trying to understand Kṛṣṇa by temporary material standards?

Practice

Pause today to remember that Kṛṣṇa’s opulences are spiritual and eternal, unlike material possessions.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Opulences Are EternalThis 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 10.60.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.