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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 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī
10.61.510.61.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.61.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.61.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रत्युद्गमासनवरार्हणपादशौच-

ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: ।

केशप्रसारशयनस्‍नपनोपहार्यै-

र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ६ ॥

pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pāda-śauca-

tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ

keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ

dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam

Translation

Although the Supreme Lord’s queens each had hundreds of maidservants, they chose to personally serve the Lord by approaching Him humbly, offering Him a seat, worshiping Him with excellent paraphernalia, bathing and massaging His feet, giving Him pān to chew, fanning Him, anointing Him with fragrant sandalwood paste, adorning Him with flower garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed, bathing Him and presenting Him with various gifts.

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.

Choose Personal Service to the Lord

  1. 1

    Although each queen had hundreds of maidservants, she chose to serve the Supreme Lord personally and humbly.

  2. 2

    Their service included offering a seat, bathing and massaging His feet, fanning Him and presenting gifts. Their excellent offerings included palmfuls of flowers and jewels.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī repeated these descriptions because he was so eager to describe the Lord’s glorious pastimes with His queens.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī is so eager to describe these glorious pastimes of the Lord with His queens that he has repeated these verses.
  • That is, text 5 of this chapter is almost identical with text 44 of the Fifty-ninth Chapter in this canto, and text 6 is identical with text 45 of that chapter.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the term varārhaṇa (“excellent offerings”) indicates that the queens offered the Lord palmfuls of flowers (puṣpāñjali) and palmfuls of jewels (ratnāñjali).

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 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus, although each of them had hundreds of maidservants, they would personally render Him menial service. Each of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives had ten sons, who in turn each fathered many sons and grandsons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.61
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pratyudgamaby approaching
  2. āsanaoffering a seat
  3. varafirst class
  4. arhaṇaworship
  5. pādaHis feet
  6. śaucawashing
  7. tāmbūla(offering) betel nut
  8. viśramaṇahelping Him to relax (by massaging His feet)
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.61

    In this verse: “worshiping”

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

What small service could you offer personally rather than leave for someone else?

Practice

Offer Kṛṣṇa a flower today, with humble attention to serving Him.

Live this todayChoose Personal Service to the LordThis 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 10.61.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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