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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 68: The Marriage of Sāmba
10.68.1710.68.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.68.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The angry Kurussince 10.68.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तेऽतिप्रीतास्तमाकर्ण्य प्राप्तं रामं सुहृत्तमम् ।

तमर्चयित्वाभिययु: सर्वे मङ्गलपाणय: ॥ १८ ॥

te ’ti-prītās tam ākarṇya

prāptaṁ rāmaṁ suhṛt-tamam

tam arcayitvābhiyayuḥ

sarve maṅgala-pāṇayaḥ

Translation

Overjoyed to hear that Balarāma, their dearmost friend, had come, they first honored Uddhava and then went forth to meet the Lord, carrying auspicious offerings in their hands.

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.

Joyfully Welcome the Lord

  1. 1

    The Kuru leaders were overjoyed to hear of Lord Balarāma’s arrival because they knew Him as a great well-wisher of their family.

  2. 2

    They first welcomed and honored Uddhava, who had brought the news.

  3. 3

    To receive Lord Balarāma properly, they carried auspicious offerings and went to meet Him outside the city gate.

Key points from the purport
  • In Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The leaders of the Kuru dynasty, especially Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana, were very joyful because they knew very well that Lord Balarāma was a great well-wisher of their family.
  • There were no bounds to their joy on hearing the news, and so they immediately welcomed Uddhava.
  • In order to properly receive Lord Balarāma, they all took in their hands auspicious paraphernalia for His reception and went to see Him outside the city gate.”

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 68: The Marriage of Sāmba

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Uddhava appeared in the Kaurava court and announced Lord Balarāma’s arrival, the Kauravas worshiped Uddhava and went to see the Lord, taking auspicious items to offer Him. The Kauravas honored Balarāma with rituals and items of respect, but when He conveyed Ugrasena’s demand that they release Sāmba, they became angry.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.68
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tethey
  2. atiextremely
  3. prītāḥpleased
  4. tamHim
  5. ākarṇyahearing
  6. prāptamarrived
  7. rāmamBalarāma
  8. suhṛt-tamamtheir dearest friend
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.68

    In this verse: “friend”

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

How can your welcome express genuine joy and respect rather than mere formality?

Practice

Take a moment today to reflect gratefully on Lord Balarāma as a well-wisher.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.68's connections

Live this todayJoyfully Welcome 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 10.68.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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