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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
10.8.4810.8.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.49

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Droṇa and Dharāsince 10.8.49inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जातयोर्नौ महादेवे भुवि विश्वेश्वरे हरौ ।

भक्ति: स्यत्परमा लोके ययाञ्जो दुर्गतिं तरेत् ॥ ४९ ॥

jātayor nau mahādeve

bhuvi viśveśvare harau

bhaktiḥ syāt paramā loke

yayāñjo durgatiṁ taret

Translation

Droṇa and Dharā said: Please permit us to be born on the planet earth so that after our appearance, the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller and master of all planets, will also appear and spread devotional service, the ultimate goal of life, so that those born in this material world may very easily be delivered from the miserable condition of materialistic life by accepting this devotional service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Delivers Us From Misery

  1. 1

    Droṇa and Dharā wished to appear on earth before the Supreme Lord so that He would appear and spread devotional service, the ultimate goal of life.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s eternal father and mother are already designated. Ordinary living beings cannot take their places, but by following their principles they may attain affection like theirs.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa distributes devotional service to deliver living beings from material misery. The purport recommends beginning with Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, then proceeding to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Key points from the purport
  • Whenever there is a necessity of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance, Droṇa and Dharā appear first, and then Kṛṣṇa appears.
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, therefore, has been started so that by practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness one can avoid the risky life of this material existence.
  • We are therefore presenting these invaluable books to the whole world so that people may study them and be happy, being delivered from miserable conditional life.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 3

The purport of SB 10.8.49 quotesBG 4.6

“Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.”

The purport of SB 10.8.49 quotesBG 15.7

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.7): “The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts.

The purport of SB 10.8.49 quotesBG 9.3

“Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jātayoḥafter we two have taken birth
  2. nauboth husband and wife, Droṇa and Dharā
  3. mahādevein the Supreme Person, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. bhuvion the earth
  5. viśva-īśvarein the master of all the planetary systems
  6. harauin the Supreme Lord
  7. bhaktiḥdevotional service
  8. syātwill be spread
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 you see devotional service as life’s ultimate goal or mainly as help with temporary difficulties?

Practice

Read a short passage from Bhagavad-gītā As It Is today with the intention of learning how to serve Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Delivers Us From MiseryThis 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 10.8.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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