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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 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth
10.8.4710.8.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.48

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.8.48inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

द्रोणो वसूनां प्रवरो धरया भार्यया सह ।

करिष्यमाण आदेशान् ब्रह्मणस्तमुवाच ह ॥ ४८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

droṇo vasūnāṁ pravaro

dharayā bhāryayā saha

kariṣyamāṇa ādeśān

brahmaṇas tam uvāca ha

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: To follow the orders of Lord Brahmā, Droṇa, the best of the Vasus, along with his wife, Dharā, spoke to Lord Brahmā in this way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Descends With His Eternal Associates

  1. 1

    Droṇa, the best of the Vasus, and his wife, Dharā, addressed Lord Brahmā in order to follow his orders.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are eternal, and He descends with His own associates. Nanda and Yaśodā are His eternal father and mother, not ordinary living beings.

  3. 3

    A nitya-siddha is an eternal associate of Kṛṣṇa; a sādhana-siddha attains perfection through pious activities and regulated devotional service. Parīkṣit Mahārāja wanted to understand what an ordinary human being could attain through such practice.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore Nanda and mother Yaśodā are the eternal father and mother of Kṛṣṇa.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit knew this, but he was curious to know from Śukadeva Gosvāmī whether it is possible for an ordinary human being to come to this stage by sādhana-siddhi.
  • Thus the purpose of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s inquiry was to determine whether an ordinary human being can attain the position of mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

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:

After describing all this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, at Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s request, praised the fortune of mother Yaśodā and Nanda. Nanda and Yaśodā were formerly Droṇa and Dharā, and by the order of Brahmā they came to this earth and had the Supreme Personality of Godhead as their son.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. droṇaḥby the name Droṇa
  3. vasūnāmof the eight Vasus (a type of demigod)
  4. pravaraḥwho was the best
  5. dharayāwith Dharā
  6. bhāryayāhis wife
  7. sahawith
  8. kariṣyamāṇaḥjust to execute
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: “yaśodā”, “nanda”, “mother”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.8

    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

How does the possibility of perfection through devotional practice encourage you?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service you already practice and give it a definite time today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Descends With His Eternal AssociatesThis 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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