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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.60.58

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं सौरतसंलापैर्भगवान् जगदीश्वर: ।

स्वरतो रमया रेमे नरलोकं विडम्बयन् ॥ ५८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ saurata-saṁlāpair

bhagavān jagad-īśvaraḥ

sva-rato ramayā reme

nara-lokaṁ viḍambayan

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: And so the self-satisfied Supreme Lord of the universe enjoyed with the goddess of fortune, engaging her in lovers’ talks and thus imitating the ways of human society.

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 Loving Pastimes Are Transcendental

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord of the universe is self-satisfied. Yet He enjoys loving conversation with the goddess of fortune.

  2. 2

    He acts like a husband in human society, but His pastimes are transcendental rather than ordinary bodily activities.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that His imitation also exposes the perverted nature of worldly activities aimed at bodily sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • The word viḍambayan means “imitating” and also “ridiculing.”
  • The Lord acted like a husband of this world, but His pastimes are transcendental and expose the perverted nature of mundane activities aimed at bodily sense gratification.

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:

Thus you are certainly the most beloved of all My consorts.” In this way the Lord of the universe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, took pleasure in joking with the goddess of fortune in her form as Rukmiṇī, and in a similar fashion He fulfilled all the duties of a householder in each palace of His other queens.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.60
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamin this way
  3. saurataconjugal
  4. saṁlāpaiḥby conversations
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  6. jagatof the universe
  7. īśvaraḥthe master
  8. svain Himself
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.60

    In this verse: “lovers’”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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 I remember the Lord’s self-satisfied, transcendental nature when reading His humanlike pastimes?

Practice

Before rereading this verse today, pause to remember that the speaker and enjoyer is the self-satisfied Supreme Lord.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Loving Pastimes Are TranscendentalThis 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 10.60.58? Get an answer from the verses themselves.