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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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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 77: Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva
10.77.3110.77.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.77.32

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śālvasince 10.77.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यत्पादसेवोर्जितयात्मविद्यया

हिन्वन्त्यनाद्यात्मविपर्ययग्रहम् ।

लभन्त आत्मीयमनन्तमैश्वरं

कुतो नु मोह: परमस्य सद्गते: ॥ ३२ ॥

yat-pāda-sevorjitayātma-vidyayā

hinvanty anādyātma-viparyaya-graham

labhanta ātmīyam anantam aiśvaraṁ

kuto nu mohaḥ paramasya sad-gateḥ

Translation

By virtue of self-realization fortified by service rendered to His feet, devotees of the Lord dispel the bodily concept of life, which has bewildered the soul since time immemorial. Thus they attain eternal glory in His personal association. How, then, can that Supreme Truth, the destination of all genuine saints, be subject to illusion?

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.

Service Frees Us From Bodily Misidentification

  1. 1

    The bodily concept of life makes a conditioned soul identify with bodily states, thinking, for example, “I am emaciated,” “I am happy” or “I am unhappy.”

  2. 2

    Self-realization fortified by service to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet dispels this longstanding misidentification. Devotees attain eternal glory in His personal association.

  3. 3

    If serving Kṛṣṇa frees devotees from illusion, illusion cannot affect the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is the destination of all genuine saints.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, sometimes a conditioned soul thinks, “I am happy” or “I am unhappy” — ideas based on the bodily concept of life.
  • Simply by serving the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, however, devotees become free from this bodily concept of life.
  • So how could such illusion possibly affect the Supreme Personality of Godhead at any time?

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 77: Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śālva descended from his airplane and rushed toward Lord Kṛṣṇa to attack Him, but the Lord took up His Sudarśana disc and severed Śālva’s head from his body. With the killing of Śālva, the demigods in the sky played kettledrums in jubilation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.77
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatwhose
  2. pādaof the feet
  3. sevāby service
  4. ūrjitayāmade strong
  5. ātma-vidyayāby self-realization
  6. hinvantithey dispel
  7. anādibeginningless
  8. ātmaof the self
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.77

    In this verse: “illusion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.77

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

When do you most readily identify yourself with the changing condition of your body?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of service to Kṛṣṇa today, asking to become free from identifying yourself only with the body.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService Frees Us From Bodily MisidentificationThis 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 10.77.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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