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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 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth
10.8.410.8.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.5

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.8.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ज्योतिषामयनं साक्षाद् यत्तज्ज्ञानमतीन्द्रियम् ।

प्रणीतं भवता येन पुमान् वेद परावरम् ॥ ५ ॥

jyotiṣām ayanaṁ sākṣād

yat taj jñānam atīndriyam

praṇītaṁ bhavatā yena

pumān veda parāvaram

Translation

O great saintly person, you have compiled the astrological knowledge by which one can understand past and present unseen things. By the strength of this knowledge, any human being can understand what he has done in his past life and how it affects his present life. This is known to you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand Life Beyond the Present Body

  1. 1

    Life is eternal, but in the material world one changes from one body to another. A sober person understands Kṛṣṇa’s teaching and is not bewildered by this change.

  2. 2

    Our present position will not last, so we must be careful how we act. Although the body is temporary, life within it brings material suffering.

  3. 3

    Garga Muni’s astrological knowledge could reveal unseen events of past, present and future. Nanda Mahārāja wanted to use this opportunity to provide for the happiness of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Key points from the purport
  • Animals do not know the past, present and future of life, nor are they able to understand it.
  • But a human being can understand this, if he is sober.
  • Nanda Mahārāja was trying to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by Garga Muni’s presence, for Garga Muni was a great authority in this knowledge of astrology, by which one can see the unseen events of past, present and future.

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· 2

The purport of SB 10.8.5 quotesBG 2.13

Therefore, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.13), dhīras tatra na muhyati: a sober person is not bewildered.

The purport of SB 10.8.5 quotesSB 5.5.4

Na sādhu manye yata ātmano ’yam asann api kleśada āsa dehaḥ. Although this body is temporary, as long as we have to live in this body we must suffer.

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:

Nanda Mahārāja therefore requested Garga Muni to perform this ceremony without anyone’s knowledge, and Garga Muni did so. Because Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī, increases the transcendental bliss of others, His name is Rāma, and because of His extraordinary strength, He is called Baladeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jyotiṣāmknowledge of astrology (along with other aspects of culture in human society, and specifically in civilized society, there must be knowledge of astrology)
  2. ayanamthe movements of the stars and planets in relationship to human society
  3. sākṣātdirectly
  4. yat tat jñānamsuch knowledge
  5. ati-indriyamwhich an ordinary person cannot understand because it is beyond his vision
  6. praṇītam bhavatāyou have prepared a perfect book of knowledge
  7. yenaby which
  8. pumānany person
  9. vedacan understand
  10. para-avaramthe cause and effect of destiny
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”, “understands”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    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

How would remembering that my present body is temporary change my choices?

Practice

Before one action today, pause and consider its consequences beyond immediate enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 5.5.4

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.8's connections

Live this todayUnderstand Life Beyond the Present BodyThis 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 10.8.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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