1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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
10.69.4010.69.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.69.41

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.69.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्याचरन्तं सद्धर्मान् पावनान् गृहमेधिनाम् ।

तमेव सर्वगेहेषु सन्तमेकं ददर्श ह ॥ ४१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity ācarantaṁ sad-dharmān

pāvanān gṛha-medhinām

tam eva sarva-geheṣu

santam ekaṁ dadarśa ha

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus in every palace Nārada saw the Lord in His same personal form, executing the transcendental principles of religion that purify those engaged in household affairs.

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.

Center Household Life on Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa kindly demonstrated how ordinary household life can be sanctified. When Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities, a Kṛṣṇa conscious householder’s life is automatically sanctified.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s activities in many palaces were performed by His single spiritual form, manifested in many places at once.

  3. 3

    Nārada desired to see these pastimes, and the Lord desired to reveal them to him. Other residents saw Kṛṣṇa only in their own particular part of Dvārakā.

Key points from the purport
  • As Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in Kṛṣṇa: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead was engaged in His so-called household affairs in order to teach people how one can sanctify one’s household life although one may be attached to the imprisonment of material existence.
  • Actually, one is obliged to continue the term of material existence because of household life.
  • Thus the Lord gave a special view of His pastimes to His beloved devotee Nārada Muni.

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:

Śrī Kṛṣṇa asked Nārada not to be confused by his vision of the Lord’s transcendental opulences, and He described to him the purposes of His appearances in this world. He then honored the sage properly, according to religious principles, and Nārada departed, continuously meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. ācarantamperforming
  4. satspiritual
  5. dharmānthe principles of religion
  6. pāvanānpurifying
  7. gṛha-medhināmfor householders
  8. tamHim
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “household”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “purify”

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 would change if I made Kṛṣṇa the center of one ordinary household activity?

Practice

Choose one household task today and perform it with the intention of serving Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCenter Household Life on 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 10.69.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories