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
10.70.3710.70.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.70.38

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 10.70.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तवेहितं कोऽर्हति साधु वेदितुं

स्वमाययेदं सृजतो नियच्छत: ।

यद् विद्यमानात्मतयावभासते

तस्मै नमस्ते स्वविलक्षणात्मने ॥ ३८ ॥

tavehitaṁ ko ’rhati sādhu vedituṁ

sva-māyayedaṁ sṛjato niyacchataḥ

yad vidyamānātmatayāvabhāsate

tasmai namas te sva-vilakṣaṇātmane

Translation

Who can properly understand Your purpose? With Your material energy You expand and also withdraw this creation, which thus appears to have substantial existence. Obeisances to You, whose transcendental position is inconceivable.

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.

Offer Respect to the Inconceivable Lord

  1. 1

    By His inconceivable potencies, Kṛṣṇa creates, maintains and dissolves the cosmic manifestation.

  2. 2

    The material world is a shadow representation of the spiritual world, yet His potency makes it appear factual.

  3. 3

    No one is equal to or greater than God, and no one can understand His future plans. Nārada responds by offering respectful obeisances again and again.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda explains Nārada’s realization as follows: “My dear Lord, by Your inconceivable potencies You create this cosmic manifestation, maintain it and again dissolve it.
  • It is by dint of Your inconceivable potency only that this material world, although a shadow representation of the spiritual world, appears to be factual.
  • Your transcendental position is always inconceivable to everyone.

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

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:

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and all the members of the assembly stood up and offered obeisances to Nārada by bowing their heads. The sage accepted a seat, and then Lord Kṛṣṇa gently questioned him: “Since you travel all over the universe, please inform Us what the Pāṇḍava brothers are planning to do.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.70
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tavaYour
  2. īhitampurpose
  3. kaḥwho
  4. arhatiis able
  5. sādhuproperly
  6. veditumto understand
  7. svaby Your own
  8. māyayāmaterial energy
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Can I offer Kṛṣṇa respect even when I cannot understand His purposes?

Practice

Offer one respectful bow to Kṛṣṇa, acknowledging His inconceivable position.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Respect to the Inconceivable LordThis 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 10.70.38? 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