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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.80.20-22

Who is speaking and story frame

अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्यु: समर्हणम् ।

उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनी: ॥ २० ॥

अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवाँल्ल‍ोकपावन: ।

व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कुमै: ॥ २१ ॥

धूपै: सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा ।

अर्चित्वावेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥

athopaveśya paryaṅke

svayam sakhyuḥ samarhaṇam

upahṛtyāvanijyāsya

pādau pādāvanejanīḥ

agrahīc chirasā rājan

bhagavāḻ loka-pāvanaḥ

vyalimpad divya-gandhena

candanāguru-kuṅkamaiḥ

dhūpaiḥ surabhibhir mitraṁ

pradīpāvalibhir mudā

arcitvāvedya tāmbūlaṁ

gāṁ ca svāgatam abravīt

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa seated His friend Sudāmā upon the bed. Then the Lord, who purifies the whole world, personally offered him various tokens of respect and washed his feet, O King, after which He sprinkled the water on His own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuṅkuma pastes and happily worshiped him with aromatic incense and arrays of lamps. After finally offering him betel nut and the gift of a cow, He welcomed him with pleasing words.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

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.

The Supreme Lord Personally Honors Sudāmā

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa seated Sudāmā on the bed and personally washed his feet. Although He purifies the whole world, He sprinkled that water on His own head.

  2. 2

    He anointed His friend with fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuṅkuma pastes. He happily worshiped him with aromatic incense and arrays of lamps.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa offered betel nut and the gift of a cow. He also welcomed Sudāmā with pleasing words.

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:

Then He sat Sudāmā down on the bed, washed his feet with His own hands and sprinkled the wash water on His head. After this He presented him with various gifts and worshiped him with incense, lamps and so on.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.80
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathen
  2. upaveśyahaving him sit
  3. paryaṅkeon the bed
  4. svayamHimself
  5. sakhyuḥfor His friend
  6. samarhaṇamitems of worship
  7. upahṛtyabringing forward
  8. avanijyawashing
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”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my words and actions make someone feel genuinely welcomed?

Practice

Offer someone a seat and welcome them with kind, pleasing words today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Personally Honors SudāmāThis 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 10.80.20-22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.