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

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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 74: The Deliverance of Śiśupāla at the Rājasūya Sacrifice
10.74.33-3410.74.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.74.35

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śiśupālasince 10.74.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वर्णाश्रमकुलापेत: सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृत: ।

स्वैरवर्ती गुणैर्हीन: सपर्यां कथमर्हति ॥ ३५ ॥

varṇāśrama-kulāpetaḥ

sarva-dharma-bahiṣ-kṛtaḥ

svaira-vartī guṇair hīnaḥ

saparyāṁ katham arhati

Translation

How does one who follows no principles of the social and spiritual orders or of family ethics, who has been excluded from all religious duties, who behaves whimsically, and who has no good qualities — how does such a person deserve to be worshiped?

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.

Kṛṣṇa Is Beyond Material Obligations

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa does not belong to any caste and has no prescribed occupational duty. Whatever must be done on His behalf is carried out by His different energies.

  2. 2

    Śiśupāla indirectly praised Kṛṣṇa by saying that He is outside the jurisdiction of Vedic injunctions. This is true because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s having no qualities means that He has no material qualities. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He acts independently of social and religious conventions.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Actually, Kṛṣṇa does not belong to any caste, nor does He have to perform any occupational duty.
  • Whatever has to be done on His behalf is executed by His different energies.… Śiśupāla indirectly praised Kṛṣṇa by saying that He is not within the jurisdiction of Vedic injunction.
  • That He has no qualities means that Kṛṣṇa has no material qualities, and because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He acts independently, not caring for conventions or social or religious principles.”

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 74: The Deliverance of Śiśupāla at the Rājasūya Sacrifice

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He follows no principles of religion and has no good qualities.” Even as Śiśupāla continued to blaspheme Him in this way, Lord Kṛṣṇa remained silent.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.74
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. varṇaof the principles of the four occupational orders of society
  2. āśramaof the four spiritual orders
  3. kulaand of proper family upbringing
  4. apetaḥdevoid
  5. sarvafrom all
  6. dharmacodes of religious duty
  7. bahiḥ-kṛtaḥexcluded
  8. svairaindependently
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.74

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”, “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.74

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.74

    In this verse: “material”

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

Do I try to measure Kṛṣṇa by the same material standards that apply to me?

Practice

Read these points once more, remembering that Kṛṣṇa’s independence belongs to Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Beyond Material ObligationsThis 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 10.74.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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