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 70: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities
10.70.2510.70.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.70.26

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The kingssince 10.70.25inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

लोको विकर्मनिरत: कुशले प्रमत्त:

कर्मण्ययं त्वदुदिते भवदर्चने स्वे ।

यस्तावदस्य बलवानिह जीविताशां

सद्यश्छिनत्त्यनिमिषाय नमोऽस्तु तस्मै ॥ २६ ॥

loko vikarma-nirataḥ kuśale pramattaḥ

karmaṇy ayaṁ tvad-udite bhavad-arcane sve

yas tāvad asya balavān iha jīvitāśāṁ

sadyaś chinatty animiṣāya namo ’stu tasmai

Translation

People in this world are always engaged in sinful activities and are thus bewildered about their real duty, which is to worship You according to Your commandments. This activity would truly bring them good fortune. Let us offer our obeisances unto the all-powerful Lord, who appears as time and suddenly cuts down one’s stubborn hope for a long life in this world.

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.

Make Your Activities Offerings to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Our real duty is to worship the Lord according to His commandments. Sinful activities bewilder people and lead them to suffering instead of good fortune.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord asks that whatever we do, eat, offer, give away or perform as austerity be offered to Him. Loving service to Him is our most essential activity.

  3. 3

    The all-powerful Lord appears as time and suddenly cuts down the hope for a long life. The kings therefore offer Him their obeisances.

Key points from the purport
  • This is the Supreme Lord’s commandment, but people in general are bewildered and neglect this auspicious activity, preferring instead to perform sinful activities that lead them to terrible suffering.
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is working to enlighten the world about this most essential activity of loving service to the Lord.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.70.26 quotesBG 9.27

Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.27): “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform — do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

War and pride → Justice and protection. The public expression of divine power comes to the foreground.

Chapters 70–79 of Canto 10: Kingship, Jarāsandha and royal challenges. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 70: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After executing the dawn rituals and other religious duties, He would offer oblations into the sacred fire, chant the Gāyatrī mantra, worship and pay tribute to the demigods, sages and forefathers, and offer respects to learned brāhmaṇas. Then He would touch auspicious substances, decorate Himself with celestial ornaments and gratify His subjects by giving them whatever they desired.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.70
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. lokaḥthe whole world
  2. vikarmato sinful activities
  3. nirataḥalways attached
  4. kuśalewhich are for their benefit
  5. pramattaḥbewildered
  6. karmaṇiabout duties
  7. ayamthis (world)
  8. tvatby You
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

Which ordinary activity could I consciously make an offering to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and offer that activity to Kṛṣṇa as loving service.

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 10.70's connections

Live this todayMake Your Activities Offerings to 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 10.70.26? 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