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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.3

Who is speaking and story frame

सूपविष्टं कृतातिथ्यं गिरा सूनृतया मुनिम् ।

नन्दयित्वाब्रवीद् ब्रह्मन्पूर्णस्य करवाम किम् ॥ ३ ॥

sūpaviṣṭaṁ kṛtātithyaṁ

girā sūnṛtayā munim

nandayitvābravīd brahman

pūrṇasya karavāma kim

Translation

When Garga Muni had been properly received as a guest and was very comfortably seated, Nanda Mahārāja submitted with gentle and submissive words: Dear sir, because you are a devotee, you are full in everything. Yet my duty is to serve you. Kindly order me. What can I do for you?

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Service with Gentle Words

  1. 1

    Nanda Mahārāja properly received Garga Muni as a guest and seated him comfortably.

  2. 2

    He spoke with gentle and submissive words, recognizing that Garga Muni was full in everything because he was a devotee.

  3. 3

    Even though Garga Muni lacked nothing, Nanda Mahārāja considered serving him his own duty.

How it feels

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day, Vasudeva sent for Garga Muni, the family priest of the yadu-vaṁśa, and thus Garga Muni went to the house of Nanda Mahārāja, who received him very well and requested him to give names to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. su-upaviṣṭamwhen Garga Muni was seated very comfortably
  2. kṛta-ātithyamand he had been properly received as a guest
  3. girāby words
  4. sūnṛtayāvery sweet
  5. munimGarga Muni
  6. nandayitvāpleasing him in this way
  7. abravītsaid
  8. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  9. pūrṇasyaof one who is full in everything
  10. karavāma kimwhat can I do for you (kindly order me)
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 service humbly, without assuming that a devotee needs something from me?

Practice

Gently ask a devotee, “What can I do for you?” and be ready to help.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Service with Gentle WordsThis 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 10.8.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.