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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
10.69.1-610.69.9-12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.69.7-8

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

तस्यामन्त:पुरं श्रीमदर्चितं सर्वधिष्ण्यपै: ।

हरे: स्वकौशलं यत्र त्वष्ट्रा कार्त्स्‍न्येन दर्शितम् ॥ ७ ॥

तत्र षोडशभि: सद्मसहस्रै: समलङ्कृतम् ।

विवेशैकतोमं शौरे: पत्नीनां भवनं महत् ॥ ८ ॥

tasyām antaḥ-puraṁ śrīmad

arcitaṁ sarva-dhiṣṇya-paiḥ

hareḥ sva-kauśalaṁ yatra

tvaṣṭrā kārtsnyena darśitam

tatra ṣoḍaśabhiḥ sadma-

sahasraiḥ samalaṅkṛtam

viveśaikatomaṁ śaureḥ

patnīnāṁ bhavanaṁ mahat

Translation

In the city of Dvārakā was a beautiful private quarter worshiped by the planetary rulers. This district, where the demigod Viśvakarmā had shown all his divine skill, was the residential area of Lord Hari, and thus it was gorgeously decorated by the sixteen thousand palaces of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens. Nārada Muni entered one of these immense palaces.

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.

Expertise Displayed in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Lord Hari’s private residential quarter was beautified by the sixteen thousand palaces of His queens. Nārada entered one of these immense palaces.

  2. 2

    Viśvakarmā manifested the expertise of the Supreme Lord. In designing and constructing these exquisite palaces, he exhibited all his talents and ingenuity.

  3. 3

    Great kings and princes visited these palaces to worship Lord Kṛṣṇa. Their splendor formed the setting for worship of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī points out that Tvaṣṭā, Viśvakarmā, manifested the expertise of the Supreme Lord, and thus he was able to build such exquisite palaces.
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The great kings and princes of the world used to visit these palaces just to worship [Lord Kṛṣṇa].
  • The architectural plans were made personally by Viśvakarmā, the engineer of the demigods, and in the construction of the palaces he exhibited all of his talents and ingenuity.”

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. tasyāmin that (Dvārakā)
  2. antaḥ-puramthe private royal precinct
  3. śrī-matopulent
  4. arcitamworshiped
  5. sarvaall
  6. dhiṣṇyaof the various planetary systems
  7. paiḥby the maintainers
  8. hareḥof Lord Hari
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.69

    In this verse: “rulers”, “kings”

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 could one of your abilities be used in service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Use one skill today for a small act of service to Kṛṣṇa.

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 10.69's connections

Live this todayExpertise Displayed in the Lord’s ServiceThis 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 10.69.7-8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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