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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 60: Lord Kṛṣṇa Teases Queen Rukmiṇī.
10.60.3410.60.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.60.35

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Rukmiṇīsince 10.60.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सत्यं भयादिव गुणेभ्य उरुक्रमान्त:

शेते समुद्र उपलम्भनमात्र आत्मा ।

नित्यं कदिन्द्रियगणै: कृतविग्रहस्त्वं

त्वत्सेवकैर्नृपपदं विधुतं तमोऽन्धम् ॥ ३५ ॥

satyaṁ bhayād iva guṇebhya urukramāntaḥ

śete samudra upalambhana-mātra ātmā

nityaṁ kad-indriya-gaṇaiḥ kṛta-vigrahas tvaṁ

tvat-sevakair nṛpa-padaṁ vidhutaṁ tamo ’ndham

Translation

Yes, my Lord Urukrama, You lay down within the ocean as if afraid of the material modes, and thus in pure consciousness You appear within the heart as the Supersoul. You are always battling against the foolish material senses, and indeed even Your servants reject the privilege of royal dominion, which leads to the blindness of ignorance.

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 Protects His Devotees Within

  1. 1

    The material modes impel living beings to act. Kṛṣṇa remains within His devotees’ hearts as the omniscient Supersoul, protecting them from entanglement in sense gratification.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord helps His devotees struggle for spiritual purity. When they become free of unwanted material habits, He reveals Himself and their eternal loving relationship becomes firmly established.

  3. 3

    Political supremacy often leads to darkness and blindness, so even the Lord’s servants avoid power politics. The Lord Himself is fully satisfied in His own spiritual bliss.

Key points from the purport
  • Here Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī points out that it is the material senses which are actually powerful in this world.
  • The Supreme Lord has taken up the battle against sense gratification on the part of His devotees, and thus He is constantly trying to help them in their struggle for spiritual purity.
  • Thus Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī correctly interprets the Lord’s actions as evidence of His supreme transcendental nature.

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:

But as for such things as body, home, wife and children, I’m indifferent to them, being the self-satisfied Personality of Godhead, transcendental to all material affairs.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa stopped speaking, having destroyed Queen Rukmiṇī’s confidence that she was her husband’s favorite.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.60
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. satyamtrue
  2. bhayātout of fear
  3. ivaas if
  4. guṇebhyaḥof the material modes
  5. urukramaO You who perform transcendental feats
  6. antaḥwithin
  7. śeteYou have lain down
  8. samudrein the ocean
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “devotees’”

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

Which unwanted habit would I like Kṛṣṇa’s help to overcome?

Practice

Pause before indulging one unwanted habit today and pray to Kṛṣṇa within your heart for help.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Protects His Devotees WithinThis 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.

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