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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 80: The Brāhmaṇa Sudāmā Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā
10.80.1110.80.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.80.12-13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.80.12-13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forSudāmā Brāhmaṇa· A humble journey

स एवं भार्यया विप्रो बहुश: प्रार्थितो मुहु: ।

अयं हि परमो लाभ उत्तम:श्लोकदर्शनम् ॥ १२ ॥

इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा गमनाय मतिं दधे ।

अप्यस्त्युपायनं किञ्चिद् गृहे कल्याणि दीयताम् ॥ १३ ॥

sa evaṁ bhāryayā vipro

bahuśaḥ prārthito muhuḥ

ayaṁ hi paramo lābha

uttamaḥśloka-darśanam

iti sañcintya manasā

gamanāya matiṁ dadhe

apy asty upāyanaṁ kiñcid

gṛhe kalyāṇi dīyatām

Translation

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] When his wife thus repeatedly implored him in various ways, the brāhmaṇa thought to himself, “To see Lord Kṛṣṇa is indeed the greatest achievement in life.” Thus he decided to go, but first he told her, “My good wife, if there is anything in the house I can bring as a gift, please give it to me.”

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.

Seeing Kṛṣṇa Is Life’s Greatest Achievement

  1. 1

    Sudāmā was naturally humble and was at first dissatisfied with his wife’s proposal.

  2. 2

    After her repeated requests, he settled his mind and decided to go. He considered seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa the greatest achievement in life.

  3. 3

    Before leaving, he asked his wife for something to bring as a gift. He wanted to take a present for his friend.

Key points from the purport
  • Sudāmā was naturally humble, and thus although at first he was dissatisfied with his wife’s proposal, finally he settled his mind and decided to go.
  • Now the last detail was that he had to take a gift for his friend.

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

Humility and separation → Friendship and reunion. The sweetness of relationship outweighs prestige.

Chapters 80–86 of Canto 10: Sudāmā and reunion with the residents of Vraja. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 80: The Brāhmaṇa Sudāmā Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

His wife begged a few handfuls of flattened rice as a gift for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and Sudāmā set off for Dvārakā. As Sudāmā approached the palace of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s principal wife, Rukmiṇī-devī, the Lord saw him from a distance.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.80
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. evamin this way
  3. bhāryayāby his wife
  4. vipraḥthe brāhmaṇa
  5. bahuśaḥprofusely
  6. prārthitaḥentreated
  7. muhuḥover and over
  8. ayamthis
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “humble”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How would my priorities change if I valued seeing Kṛṣṇa as life’s greatest achievement?

Practice

Set aside a small gift you already have to offer to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeing Kṛṣṇa Is Life’s Greatest AchievementThis 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 10.80.12-13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.