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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
10.80.2710.80.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.80.28

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.80.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीभगवानुवाच

अपि ब्रह्मन् गुरुकुलाद् भवता लब्धदक्षिणात् ।

समावृत्तेन धर्मज्ञ भार्योढा सद‍ृशी न वा ॥ २८ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

api brahman gurukulād

bhavatā labdha-dakṣiṇāt

samāvṛttena dharma-jña

bhāryoḍhā sadṛśī na vā

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: My dear brāhmaṇa, you know well the ways of dharma. After you offered the gift of remuneration to our guru and returned home from his school, did you marry a compatible wife or not?

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.

Spiritual Life Includes Prescribed Duties

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa addressed His friend as one who knew the ways of dharma. He asked whether, after offering remuneration to their guru, he had married a compatible wife.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that āśrama, or spiritual order, is significant. Each person should execute the prescribed duties of student, married, retired or renounced life.

  3. 3

    Seeing His friend poorly dressed but not dressed as a renunciant, Kṛṣṇa inquired whether he was properly married and carrying out household duties.

Key points from the purport
  • Among civilized human beings, the question of āśrama, or spiritual order, is significant.
  • Since Lord Kṛṣṇa could see that the brāhmaṇa was poorly dressed, He inquired if His friend had been properly married and was executing the duties of household life.
  • Since he was not dressed as a renunciant, he would be without a suitable āśrama unless he were properly married.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Lord said
  2. apiwhether
  3. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  4. gurukulātfrom the spiritual master’s school
  5. bhavatāby your good self
  6. labdhahaving received
  7. dakṣiṇātremuneration
  8. samāvṛttenareturned
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “dharma”, “duties”, “āśrama”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “household”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which responsibility in my present stage of life needs more faithful attention?

Practice

Choose one duty appropriate to your present stage of life and complete it carefully today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Life Includes Prescribed DutiesThis 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 10.80.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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