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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 69: Nārada Muni Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Palaces in Dvārakā
10.69.9-1210.69.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.69.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.69.1-6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्मिन् समानगुणरूपवय:सुवेष-

दासीसहस्रयुतयानुसवं गृहिण्या ।

विप्रो ददर्श चमरव्यजनेन रुक्‍म-

दण्डेन सात्वतपतिं परिवीजयन्त्या ॥ १३ ॥

tasmin samāna-guṇa-rūpa-vayaḥ-su-veṣa-

dāsī-sahasra-yutayānusavaṁ gṛhiṇyā

vipro dadarśa cāmara-vyajanena rukma-

daṇḍena sātvata-patiṁ parivījayantyā

Translation

In that palace the learned brāhmaṇa saw the Lord of the Sātvatas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, together with His wife, who fanned Him with a gold-handled yak-tail fan. She personally served Him in this way, even though she was constantly attended by a thousand maidservants equal to her in personal character, beauty, youth and fine dress.

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.

The Queen Personally Serves Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Nārada saw Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the Sātvatas, together with His wife. She was fanning Him with a gold-handled yak-tail fan.

  2. 2

    A thousand maidservants constantly attended the queen. They equaled her in personal character, beauty, youth and fine dress.

  3. 3

    Even with so many attendants, the queen personally served Kṛṣṇa. Her own service remained part of her life with the Lord.

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 69: Nārada Muni Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Palaces in Dvārakā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Nārada entered one of the sixteen thousand palaces and saw Goddess Rukmiṇī personally rendering menial service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, despite her being in the company of thousands of maidservants. As soon as Lord Kṛṣṇa noticed Nārada, He got up from His bed, offered obeisances to the sage and seated him on His own seat.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.69
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmintherein
  2. samānaequal
  3. guṇawhose personal qualities
  4. rūpabeauty
  5. vayaḥyouth
  6. su-veṣaand fine dress
  7. dāsīby maidservants
  8. sahasraa thousand
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

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 does the queen’s personal service suggest about your own participation in devotional service?

Practice

Personally carry out one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa today rather than leaving it to someone else.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Queen Personally Serves KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.69.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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