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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 70: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities
10.70.4010.70.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.70.41

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 10.70.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यक्ष्यति त्वां मखेन्द्रेण राजसूयेन पाण्डव: ।

पारमेष्ठ्यकामो नृपतिस्तद् भवाननुमोदताम् ॥ ४१ ॥

yakṣyati tvāṁ makhendreṇa

rājasūyena pāṇḍavaḥ

pārameṣṭhya-kāmo nṛpatis

tad bhavān anumodatām

Translation

Desiring unrivaled sovereignty, King Yudhiṣṭhira intends to worship You with the greatest fire sacrifice, the Rājasūya. Please bless his endeavor.

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.

Worship for Kṛṣṇa’s Association and Mercy

  1. 1

    Yudhiṣṭhira intended to worship Kṛṣṇa with the Rājasūya, the greatest fire sacrifice. Nārada asked the Lord to bless this endeavor.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Yudhiṣṭhira already possessed all the material opulences possible in Brahmaloka. He had no further material opulence for which to aspire.

  3. 3

    He wanted to perform the sacrifice to gain Kṛṣṇa’s association, please Him and receive His causeless mercy. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, standing at the height of all existence.

Key points from the purport
  • King Yudhiṣṭhira is described here as pārameṣṭhya-kāma, or “desiring pārameṣṭhya.”
  • First of all, may I inform You that King Yudhiṣṭhira has all material opulences that are possible to achieve in the highest planetary system, Brahmaloka.
  • He has no material opulence for which to aspire, and yet he wants to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice only to get Your association and to please You.… He wants to worship You in order to achieve Your causeless mercy, and I beg to request You to fulfill his desires.”

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:

Nārada then praised the Supreme Lord and replied, “King Yudhiṣṭhira desires to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. For this he requests Your sanction and presence.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.70
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yakṣyatihe will perform sacrifice
  2. tvāmunto You
  3. makhaof fire sacrifices
  4. indreṇawith the greatest
  5. rājasūyenaknown as Rājasūya
  6. pāṇḍavaḥthe son of Pāṇḍu
  7. pārameṣṭhyauncontested dominion
  8. kāmaḥdesiring
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “bless”, “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.70

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

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

Is my worship aimed at gaining more possessions, or at pleasing Kṛṣṇa and seeking His mercy?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pray that it may please Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship for Kṛṣṇa’s Association and MercyThis 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.

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