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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 64: The Deliverance of King Nṛga
10.64.2210.64.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.64.23

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Yamarājasince 10.64.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पूर्वं त्वमशुभं भुङ्‍क्ष उताहो नृपते शुभम् ।

नान्तं दानस्य धर्मस्य पश्ये लोकस्य भास्वत: ॥ २३ ॥

pūrvaṁ tvam aśubhaṁ bhuṅkṣa

utāho nṛpate śubham

nāntaṁ dānasya dharmasya

paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ

Translation

[Yamarāja said:] My dear King, do you wish to experience the results of your sins first, or those of your piety? Indeed, I see no end to the dutiful charity you have performed, or to your consequent enjoyment in the radiant heavenly planets.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Piety and Sin Have Their Results

  1. 1

    Yamarāja asks the King whether he wishes to experience the results of his sins or his piety first.

  2. 2

    Yamarāja sees no end to the dutiful charity the King has performed.

  3. 3

    That charity brings enjoyment in the radiant heavenly planets. Yet the King also has sinful reactions to experience.

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 64: The Deliverance of King Nṛga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Yama asked me which I preferred to do first: suffer the results of my sins or enjoy the results of my pious acts. I decided to suffer my sinful reactions first, and thus I assumed the body of a lizard.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.64
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pūrvamfirst
  2. tvamyou
  3. aśubhamimpious reactions
  4. bhuṅkṣewish to experience
  5. uta āha uor else
  6. nṛ-pateO King
  7. śubhampious reactions
  8. nanot
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.64

    In this verse: “sins”, “sinful”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.64

    In this verse: “king”

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 notice both my helpful actions and the wrongs I still need to acknowledge?

Practice

Take a moment today to honestly review one helpful action and one harmful action of your own.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPiety and Sin Have Their ResultsThis 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 10.64.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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