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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 69: Nārada Muni Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Palaces in Dvārakā
10.69.1610.69.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.69.17

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 10.69.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीनारद उवाच

नैवाद्भ‍ुतं त्वयि विभोऽखिललोकनाथे

मैत्री जनेषु सकलेषु दम: खलानाम् ।

नि:श्रेयसाय हि जगत्स्थितिरक्षणाभ्यां

स्वैरावतार उरुगाय विदाम सुष्ठु ॥ १७ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

naivādbhutaṁ tvayi vibho ’khila-loka-nāthe

maitrī janeṣu sakaleṣu damaḥ khalānām

niḥśreyasāya hi jagat-sthiti-rakṣaṇābhyāṁ

svairāvatāra urugāya vidāma suṣṭhu

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O almighty Lord, it is no surprise that You, the ruler of all worlds, show friendship for all people and yet subdue the envious. As we well know, You descend by Your sweet will in order to bestow the highest good on this universe by maintaining and protecting it. Thus Your glories are widely sung.

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 Is Everyone’s True Friend

  1. 1

    Every living being is a servant of the Lord, and the Lord is the true friend of every living being. His friendship extends to all.

  2. 2

    Even when the Lord chastises envious persons, His punishment amounts to real friendship. Both His chastisement and His blessing benefit the living being.

  3. 3

    The Lord descends by His own sweet will to bestow the highest good on the universe. He maintains and protects it, and His glories are widely sung.

Key points from the purport
  • As pointed out by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, all living beings are in fact servants of the Lord.
  • Every living being is a servant of the Lord, and the Lord is the true friend of every living being.
  • Thus even when the Lord chastises envious persons like Jarāsandha, such punishment amounts to real friendship, since both the Lord’s chastisement and His blessing are for the benefit of the living being.

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 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. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaŚrī Nārada said
  2. nanot
  3. evaat all
  4. adbhutamsurprising
  5. tvayifor You
  6. vibhoO almighty one
  7. akhilaof all
  8. lokaworlds
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “friendship”, “friend”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “protecting”, “protects”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “sweet”

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 might remembering that every living being is the Lord’s servant affect your attitude toward others?

Practice

Before one interaction today, pause and remember that the other person is also a servant of the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Everyone’s True FriendThis 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 10.69.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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